Hong Kong and Guangdong have decided on reduction targets for air pollutants up to 2020 that are much less ambitious than goals set in the previous phase. Under the new eight-year plan starting this year, authorities from each side will also work towards separate mid- and long-term reduction rates of emission. That decision marked a departure from the 2002-2010 phase, in which both places shared common emission targets for four pollutants. In that phase, Guangdong failed by 2010 to achieve a promised cut in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and marginally attained the target for nitrogen oxides. Hong Kong, meanwhile, had met all four targets, which also include sulphur dioxide and respirable suspended particulates. “Obviously, there’s not enough momentum for Guangdong officials to take emissions of volatile organic compounds very seriously,” a Chinese analyst said. Zhong Liuju, an air pollution prevention expert linked to the provincial government, said pollution worsened at an “unexpected” pace as 2010 economic output turned out to be 1.26 times the original estimates. Both regions laid down new specific reduction targets on emissions that would apply only until 2015. In the three years ahead, Hong Kong will have a tighter sulphur dioxide target than Guangdong, but will ease up on scrutiny of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Both places endorse the same target for respirable suspended particulates, or particles of 10 microns or less. By 2020, Hong Kong hopes to see emission drops in all four pollutants of 15% to 75%, and Guangdong of 15% to 40%.