Hong Kong has published the "Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction) (Amendment) Regulations" to add restrictions on the use of liquid fuels to control the emission of sulphur dioxide, a major pollutant responsible for respiratory illness.

This regulation mandates the use of ultra low sulphur diesel with sulphur content of no more than 0.005 % by weight, in industrial and commercial processes. The amended regulation was introduced at Hong Kong's Legislative Council on May 21, and subject to approval it will take effect from October 1, 2008.

"SO2 plays a significant role in causing regional air pollution. It reacts with other chemicals in the atmosphere and transforms into fine particles which impair visibility and contribute to smog formation. The SAR Government and the Guangdong Provincial Government reached a consensus in 2002 to reduce SO2 by 40% by 2010, using 1997 as the base year," a spokesman of the Environmental Protection Department said in a statement.

According to the government, the new legislation will reportedly not cause any major impact on the operational environment of the industrial and commercial sectors.