Air pollution in Hong Kong

On two cloud-free days, the haze situation can differ dramatically depending on the season and therefore on the direction of the wind.

Air pollution in Hong Kong is considered a serious problem. Visibility is currently less than eight kilometres for 30% of the year. Cases of asthma and bronchial infections have soared in recent years due to reduced air quality.

Effects

Poor visibility

Declining regional air quality means visibility has also decreased dramatically. In 2004, low visibility occurred 18% of the time– the highest on record, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.^[1] The number of days in which visibility was less than eight kilometres rose to 102 in 2005 from 40 in 1997.^[2]

Health implications

The mortality rate from vehicular pollution can be twice as high near heavily travelled roads, based on a study conducted in Holland at residences 50 meters from a main road and 100 meters from a freeway.^[3] Since millions of people in Hong Kong live and work in close proximity to busy roads, this presents a major health risk to city residents. The Hong Kong Medical Association estimates that air pollution can exacerbate asthma, impair lung function and raise the risk of cardio-respiratory death by 2 to 3 percent for every increase of 10 micrograms per cubic metre of pollutants.^[3] Studies by local public health experts have found that these roadside pollution levels are responsible for 90,000 hospital admissions and 2,800 premature deaths every year.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang declared that the high life-expectancy of Hong Kong demonstrates that concerns over air quality were not justified.

Professor Anthony Hedley, chair of community medicine at Hong Kong University, said "Tsang is badly advised on current public health issues." Hedley added that air pollution levels in Hong Kong were extremely high, and could affect the lungs, blood vessels and heart.^[4] James Tien, former Chairman of the Liberal Party of Hong Kong, retorted, "Can [Tsang] really be confident that, if pollution continues to worsen, will he be able to promise the same life expectancy for our children and for our grandchildren?"^[5]

Economic impact

Even as early as 2000, the total negative impact to the Hong Kong Economy, including cardiorespiratory disease was in excess of HK$11.1 billion.^[6] Research by three universities and a think-tank estimates that the pollution is costing Hong Kong about HK$21.2 billion a year in hospital admissions and lost productivity. In addition, about 1,600 deaths a year might be avoided if air quality improves.^[7]

Made aware of fresh statistical and anecdotal evidence that pollution is driving away business and hurting Hong Kong's global competitiveness, James Tien called air pollution "a health issue, a lifestyle issue, a tourism issue, a business issue, and increasingly a political issue."^[5]

Merrill Lynch downgraded several Hong Kong property companies because of air quality concerns, and there have been warnings from the head of the Stock Exchange that pollution was scaring investors away.^[5] It said that the air quality in Hong Kong is now regularly so poor that its "long-term competitiveness is in some doubt", and advised clients to switch into developers in Singapore instead.^[7]

Pollution is dramatically harming not only the health of citizens of Hong Kong but also its economy, particularly relating to the ability to attract skilled foreign labour.^[8]

The chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said each year at least two or three people decline offers to work in the Hong Kong offices of member companies because of pollution: "It's going to cost us in the future if we don't clean up here".

"Five years ago, air quality wasn't a concern when people considered whether to relocate to Hong Kong", said Jardine Engineering Corp. Chief Executive James Graham. "[In the past, o]ne of the advantages was clean air. We can no longer say that". A London-based human resources consultant recommends that companies pay a 10 percent hardship allowance to lure expatriates, partly because of air quality.^[9]

Air-quality monitoring

Air Pollution Index - EPD

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in Hong Kong was established to solve problems and provide for a long lasting acceptable level of air quality.^[10]

In June 1995, instead of adopting internationally accepted benchmark index for pollution, it set up the Air Pollution Index as an indicator to pollution levels, both "General" and "Roadside".

Air Quality Objectives (AQOs) for seven widespread air pollutants were established in 1987 under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO),^[10] and have not been reviewed since it was set up.^[3] It is not clear how the levels are determined.^[3]

In October 2005, Task Force on Air Pollution criticised the Government for deluding itself with a pollution index that is a "meaningless" indicator of health risks.^[3] Professor Wong Tze-wai, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong commented that the current air pollution index "gives a false sense of security".^[3] Gary Wong, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Department of Paediatrics and School of Public Health, said that under the current index, "some harmful pollution components aren't even recorded." In addition, he pointed out that there is no strategic plan or a timetable to tackle the problem, unlike in other countries^[3]

Street-level air quality regularly falls short of the government’s Air Quality Objectives (AQOs), and even further short of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines, revised in October.

Academics called for Hong Kong Government to immediately update its air quality objectives set almost twenty years ago.^[4] For example, on 19 and 20 November 2006, roadside levels of respirable suspended particulates (RSPs – equivalent to PM10) exceeded the WHO guidelines by at least 300%. Prof Anthony Hedley of the University of Hong Kong said in September 2007 that if Hong Kong's Air Pollution Index was based on WHO recommended levels, our readings would be "absolutely sky high" for most of the year.^[11] Secretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung said the WHO targets were too stringent.^[4]

Air quality monitoring by the Department are carried out by 11 general stations and three roadside stations. On 8 March 2012, the Department started reporting data on fine suspended particulates in the air on an hourly basis, that are a leading component of smog. It began regular monitoring of PM2.5 levels, which measure 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less, at three stations since 2005, but the data were never publicized.^[12]

Real Air Pollution Index - Greenpeace

In September 2008, Greenpeace East Asia's Hong Kong office launched its "Real Air Pollution Index"^[13] as part of a campaign to get the government to update the Air Pollution Index to match WHO guidelines. The Real Air Pollution Index reports hourly pollution levels from 14 monitoring stations across the region and compares them to WHO standards.

Actions implemented

Switch to cleaner motor fuels

All HK taxis and many LPB now run on LPG.

Sign on taxi showing its new LPG status

2006 indoor smoking ban

The Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance 2006 bans smoking indoors in restaurants, workplaces, schools, karaoke lounges, as well as beaches, swimming pools, sports grounds and public parks with effect from 1 January 2007.

Organizations working against air pollution

Clear The Air Hong Kong

Clear the Air is a charity organisation committed to improving air quality in Hong Kong. Current projects include:

• Diesel – Recent government policies centred on voluntary schemes to phase out old polluting diesel vehicles (pre Euro 3) have proven ineffective. Further campaigns have to mandate a compulsory and scheduled phasing out of old polluting vehicles.
• Energy – Aim to reduce harmful pollutants (PM 2.5) from power station emissions through more stringent Air Quality Objectives (AQO). Work to improve energy savings and efficiency in all public and private buildings across Hong Kong.
• Events & Education – Participating in and/or driving various territory wide environmental events and educational programs on clean air.
• Idling Engines – Successful idling engine patrols have highlighted awareness among the public and the government of increased road side pollution leading to a ban on idling engines across Hong Kong to be tabled at Legco.
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) – Free IAQ assessments for schools to be extended; the first campaign started April 2008.
• Marine – Research conducted to implement a "smoky vessel spotter" scheme. More needs to be done to establish a Clean Port Policy scheme.
• Tobacco – Clear The Air is advocating the Government to license all tobacco retailers, pressing the Financial Secretary to increase tobacco tax, pressing Legco to rescind the flawed qualified establishment exemptions and educating the public that the true cost of smoking to Hong Kong society is in excess of $73.32 billion per year.
• Town Planning – Clear The Air defends the benchmark of "canyon effect" and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) to auto-regulate urban traffic density.

Actions Discussed or forums created

July 2006 Action Blue Sky Campaign

The Action Blue Sky Campaign was an environmental campaign organised by the Environmental Protection Department, and launched by Chief Executive Donald Tsang in July 2006. Its campaign slogan in Chinese was "全城投入　為藍天打氣" ("Let all of the city join in to fight for a blue sky"),^[14] while its campaign slogan in English is "Clean Air for a Cool Hong Kong!"^[15] The campaign hoped to win support from the public as well as the business community, including those businesses investing in the Pearl River Delta Region.

November 2007 vehicle idling ban

In November 2007, the government launched a public consultation on the proposal which would impose a fixed penalty of HK$320 on drivers who would violate a ban on idling, with taxi and minibus drivers likely to bear the brunt of the ban. The government said its action is due to the failure of motorists to heed many past campaigns switch off engines while waiting. Taxi and minibus drivers were opposed to the proposal.^[16]

Currently it is illegal for any driver to leave their engine running if they get out of their vehicle.^[17] The courts have been awarding fines of HK$700.^[18] It is also illegal for taxis to loiter and minibuses to stop longer than necessary to pick up or put down passengers. It is also illegal to park anywhere except in a designated parking place. This means that the vast majority of drivers who idle their engines are already in violation of at least one existing traffic safety law.

However, traffic wardens are under strict policy guidelines not to give out any tickets unless there has already developed a "serious" obstruction of the roadway or there have been multiple complaints made by the public; this is the "Selective Traffic Enforcement Policy" (STEP).^[19]

Traffic safety policing of idling vehicles, therefore, falls to private organisations like "mini spotters" who act as volunteer traffic wardens, making statements to police that can be prosecuted without traffic wardens having to issue tickets directly to the transport trade.

2008–09 Budget measures

In the 2008–09 Budget, Financial Secretary John Tsang proposed a 100% profit tax deduction for capital expenditure on environmentally friendly machinery and equipment in the first year of purchase, to encourage the business community to go green. He also suggested shortening the depreciation period of this equipment from the usual 25 years to 5 years.

New targets for 2014

In January 2012, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah announced that the Hong Kong government would update its air quality objectives, put in place in 1987, bringing them closer to WHO guidelines. According to the proposals, which will be set through legislation, seven types of emissions will be monitored will be subject to "the most stringent standards of the WHO". Respirable and fine particulates will also be monitored, but less stringently. Yau said that Hong Kong would only aim for "achievable targets", saying that "even the European Union cannot fully adopt all of [the WHO targets]".^[20] Targets set for three of the seven environmental pollutants are to be based on the WHO's interim targets. Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead will be subject to the most stringent monitoring standards. Monitoring of particulates smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) would be introduced under the proposals, but will be loosest of the three WHO interim targets. Yau asserted some local pollution had roots outside the territory, and was outside of the government's control.^[21] In total, 22 measures in all were to contribute towards meeting the new objectives. SUch measures would include phasing out heavily polluting vehicles, promoting hybrid or electric vehicles, and increasing the use of natural gas. However, environmental impact assessments of projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge were conducted and approved under the old air-quality guidelines. Yau also acknowledged that the three-year transitional period after 2014 to allow construction projects that begin earlier to continue under the old guidelines so they will not be delayed.^[21] Mike Kilburn from Civic Exchange and Professor Hedley of the University of Hong Kong expressed their disappointment, saying that it too little, and too long overdue. Kilburn said: " It is a move that we have been waiting years for years but we are extremely disappointed as the objectives are not strict enough to make any positive impact on air quality."^[20] Other environmental activists lamented the half-hearted implementation of measures, and the elusiveness of timetable for meeting the most stringent objectives.^[21]

See also

Hong Kong portal

• Environment of Hong Kong

References

External links

• Environmental Protection Department
• Clear the Air
• Mini Spotters
• Greenpeace China's Real Air Pollution Index