---

The managing director of the Hong Kong Ship Owners' Association has called for stricter regulation on pollution from the shipping industry.

Arthur Bowring is quoted by Hong Kong's daily newspaper South China Morning Post as saying: "We need regulation. We’re frustrated by the lack of action by government."

According to Bowring, the Fair Winds Charter - a voluntary agreement to switch to low sulphur fuel when berthed at Hong Kong, which was signed by 15 shipping lines in November 2010 - should be made law so that all vessels calling at the port burn cleaner fuels.

Bowring goes on to say that the only effective way of tackling marine pollution would be to impose an Emission Control Area (ECA) for the entire Pearl River Delta region. However, he recognizes that this would require lengthy negotiations with mainland governments.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology visiting scholar Simon Ng Ka-wing, who is working on a report on marine emissions for the government’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD), stated that the decision to impose more stringent rules would ultimately depend on local governments.

"Implementing a low-emission zone in this region depends on whether the mainland governments are willing to do it. They would have the final say on whether we can achieve that," said Ng.

A spokeswoman for the government’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD), is quoted by the Hong Kong daily as saying that the administration has been monitoring developments in the marine industry. "We have been watching closely the development of worldwide policies, measures and new technologies in controlling the emissions of ocean-going vessels and will explore the feasibility of introducing them to Hong Kong," said the unnamed source.

However, observers are sceptical that new legislation will be passed before the end of the current administration. Earlier this year, Edward Yau, Secretary for the Environment, expressed support for the Fair Wind Charter, but made no commitment regarding the implementation of new regulations.