Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department has awarded a consultancy agreement to ENSR Asia (HK) Limited to undertake a study of major industrial air pollution sources in the Pearl River Delta region.

A department spokesman said that through this study data would be collected on the distribution of the major industrial sources, their emission characteristics and control measures being adopted. The information would be useful when formulating appropriate control strategies to improve the air quality in the region.

"Both the Guangdong and Hong Kong governments are committed to improving air quality in the PRD region and have reaffirmed the determination to achieve the emissions reduction targets by 2010. To improve the regional air quality in the long-run, continued efforts are required to study regional air pollution issues scientifically and look into appropriate pollution control strategies," the spokesman said.

The study will last for two years and is expected to be completed by late 2009.