Control on Excessive Emission Urged
By Alfredo Armando de Assis

The increasing public and industrial transportation in Macau has worsened the air pollution problem and the government is urged to take an immediate action to ensure a cleaner vehicle emission.

The statistics of air quality in the past five years (2000 - 2004) provided by the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau of Macau shows that the average air quality in central Macau and suburbs deteriorated each year as the air quality index changed from 43.6 (good) in 2000 to 53.3 (moderate) in 2004, due largely to the excessive emission from industrial factories and the increasing number of automobiles.

In Macau, the diesel engines maximum emission level, measured in HSU units (Hartridge Smoke Unit) for diesel engines is 60 HSU, but often vehicles are found to have the emission level higher than the limit.

One of the explanations for the excessive emission from public and industrial vehicles is about the maintenance of vehicle engines. "Usually, this kind of vehicles such as taxis, buses, and large trucks use diesel engines which are different from the widely used unleaded petrol engines," said Choi Chi Hong, an operator of an automobile service garage. "Many of them, especially industrial vehicles lack proper maintenance. In most of the cases, it is because the companies or the drivers are not willing to pay for a regular service treatment. Moreover, the Macau government does not pay much attention to the problem either."

Indeed, the Macau government's management and control of air pollution from the excessive emission of vehicles are not carried out as extensively and thoughtfully as other neighboring cities like Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government offers several kinds of assistance and innovation for public and industrial vehicles in Hong Kong such as importing LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) taxis and alternative fuel buses, as well as improving vehicle emission by retrofitting with diesel catalysts. There are also new policies such as forbidding vehicles to enter some divided areas in the city and controlling on bus numbers.

A cab driver, Chan Ka Wah suggested that the Macau government should offer allowances or tax exemptions for taxi drivers to have a regular automobile maintenance in order to maintain the business competitive and the environment clean.

"A small city with a dense population like Macau needs a better living environment. It is important not only for local residents, but also for the boost of the local economy," said Wong Chui Tang, a pedestrian covering her nose and mouth with her hand while crossing a busy street in Sun Mah Lo, central Macau.

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