Air pollution in Hong Kong Totally Explained

Everything about Air Pollution In Hong Kong totally explained

Air pollution in Hong Kong is considered a serious problem. Not only the flora and fauna are affected but also humans. Visibility is currently less than eight kilometers for 30% of the year. Cases of asthma and bronchial infections have soared in recent years, and doctors place the blame squarely on poor air quality.

Sources of pollution

The dense population, smoke-belching factories and power stations, ceaseless construction and large numbers of diesel vehicles have made for dangerous levels of particulate matter (RSP) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂).
   Whilst the Government has in the past maintained that the Mainland was an important source of airborne pollutants, experts have estimated that most of Hong Kong's acid rain comes from its own industry and transport: Most of Hong Kong’s power is generated by burning coal. Electricity generation produces half of Hong Kong’s total emissions of nitrogen oxide and particulates, and 92 per cent of its total sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emissions. Most local power stations don't yet have flue gas desulphurisation, although equipment is being installed and the government has required that all new generation capacity should come from natural gas.
   In terms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, the city's Castle Peak power plant, run by China Light and Power, was named the third most polluting electricity generator in the world by Washington-based group Carbon Monitoring for Action (CARMA), which estimated that the power station produced 35.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in order to generate 28.2 million MWh of energy. The generator, however, claims emissions were one-third of that level.
   Hong Kong’s roads are also the most crowded in the world, with almost 280 vehicles for every kilometre of road. The city’s vehicle fleet is dominated by heavily polluting, aging goods vehicles, most of which run between the city and the Pearl River Delta/Shenzhen. Diesel commercial vehicles are responsible 90% of RSPs and 80% of NO₂ emissions from the entire road transport sector, despite making up only 23% of the vehicle fleet. Double-decker diesel buses and a steadily growing fleet of private cars have also added to congestion and pollutionThe number of days in which visibility was less than eight kilometers rose to 102 in 2005 from 40 in 1997.
   According to research at the University of Hong Kong, the air in Hong Kong contains almost three times more soot and other pollutants than New York's and more than twice of that in London..
   In June 1995, instead of adopting internationally accepted benchmark index for pollution, it set up the Air Pollution Index as in 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)
   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 agoSecretary for Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao Sau-tung said the WHO targets were too stringent.}}
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 the SAR were extremely high, and could affect the lungs, blood vessels and heart 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.
   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.
   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. "[Inthe 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.

Actions

Motor fuels

All diesel stations have been successfully converted to Ultra-Low Sulphuric Diesel ones. while its campaign slogan in English is "Clean Air for a Cool Hong Kong!" The campaign hopes to win support from the public as well as the business community, including those businesses investing in the Pearl River Delta Region.

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 are opposed to the proposal.

2008-2009 Budget

In the 08-09 Budget, Financial Secretary John Tsang proposed a 100% profits tax deduction for capital expenditure on environment-friendly machinery and equipment in the first year of purchase to encourage the business community to use more environmental-friendly equipment. He also suggested shortening the depreciation period of this equipment from the usual 25 years to 5 years.↑

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