What Changed
- 2025 regional annual average air pollutant levels in the Pearl River Delta decreased by 23% to 86% compared to 20 years ago, with fine suspended particulates reaching 19 μg/m³.
- Hong Kong SAR implemented updated Air Quality Objectives in April 2025, published tightened power plant emission caps for 2030 onwards in May 2025, and updated its EV roadmap in February 2026.
- Guangdong Province and Macao SAR advanced local action plans, VOC standards, fuel restrictions, and vehicle scrapping subsidy schemes to lower atmospheric emissions.
The governments of Guangdong Province (mainland China), the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and the Macao SAR have jointly released the 2025 annual air quality monitoring results under the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Pearl River Delta (PRD) Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network. The report demonstrates a long-term downward trend in annual average concentrations for five major air pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, respirable suspended particulates, and fine suspended particulates. Compared to 20 years ago, 2025 pollutant concentrations dropped between 23 per cent and 86 per cent, with fine suspended particulates declining to 19 μg/m³.
**Who Is Affected and Regulatory Context**
The findings reflect multi-jurisdictional environmental regulations impacting commercial transport operators, shipping companies, power plants, industrial facilities, and vehicle owners across the Greater Bay Area (GBA):
- **Hong Kong SAR:** Key measures include the Air Pollution Control (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, which took effect in April 2025 to update 15 Air Quality Objectives (AQOs). In May 2025, the HKSAR Government published the Tenth Technical Memorandum tightening power plant emission caps from 2030. Amendments to the Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction) Regulations capped sulphur content in industrial and commercial liquid fuels at 0.001 per cent. Further, under the updated EV roadmap announced in February 2026, Hong Kong aims to phase out approximately 40,000 Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles by end-2027 (over 33,700 phased out by end-August 2026) and cease new registrations of fuel-propelled private cars by 2035 or earlier.
- **Guangdong Province:** Guangdong implemented action plans and local standards targeting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from industrial boilers, chemical storage, and factories, alongside strict emission enforcement on diesel trucks.
- **Macao SAR:** Macao introduced a five-year financial support plan in 2025 for scrapping gasoline motorcycles and launched the third phase of its diesel vehicle subsidy scheme in 2026, while tightening vehicle tailpipe emission standards.
**Official Monitoring Network**
Data is gathered from 23 regional stations overseen by the Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Centre of Guangdong, the HKSAR Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Macao Environmental Protection Bureau, and the Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau.
Who May Be Affected
Commercial vehicle fleets, maritime shipping lines, industrial and chemical facility operators, power utilities, and vehicle owners across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Cross-Border Context
The measures represent coordinated cross-boundary environmental governance between mainland China (Guangdong Province), Hong Kong SAR, and Macao SAR within the Greater Bay Area.
What to check next
- Access the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Regional Air Quality Monitoring Information System (www.gdeem.cn:20047/#/) for detailed station monitoring data.
- Monitor the HKSAR Environmental Protection Department website (www.epd.gov.hk) for proposed amendments to the Air Pollution Control (Marine Light Diesel) Regulation.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.