Speaking on a radio talk show today, Mr Kwok admitted that it is not an easy task to solve the regional pollution problem.

However he stressed that both Hong Kong and Guangdong Province governments are dedicated to improve the air quality of the region. The two places reached an agreement in April 2002 with an aim to reduce the regional emissions of four major air pollutants by 2010.

Achieving the targets will significantly reduce the occurrence of smog in the region, he added.

As a measure to improve our air quality, he said the Government is now seeking public's views on a proposal to introduce mandatory registration and labelling requirements for specified products that may contain volatile organic compounds.

The proposed scheme, if implemented, will require all paints, printing inks, and selected consumer products to be properly tested and registered.

They may be sold only with a label indicating their VOC contents and carrying the message, "VOCs Cause Air Pollution".

The proposed scheme will enable consumers to make informed choices when purchasing products with VOC contents, he said.

With the obvious advantage of reducing the emissions of harmful pollutants to the air, he said, the proposed scheme will not have much financial burden on the trade.

Two environment units to merge

Mr Kwok said, to improve service delivery and bring about efficiency gains in the area of environmental protection, the Government plans to merge the Environment Branch of the Environment, Transport & Works Bureau with the Environmental Protection Department with effect from April 1, 2005.

He said the merger will achieve synergy between policy formulation and implementation and will result in a net reduction of four directorate posts bringing about savings of $8.85 million a year in staff costs.