According to review by the Clean Air Network environmental group
A careful study by Clean Air Network (CAN) of the data collected from the Environmental Protection Department’s (EPD) fifteen air quality monitoring stations from January to June 2014 has revealed that Hong Kong’s air quality continues to be far from satisfactory.
All monitored air pollutants (NO2, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and O3) reached levels that exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guidelines at every single monitoring station in Hong Kong, with only two exceptions.
|
The Hedley Environmental Index estimates that, from January to June 2014, air pollution led to 1,430 premature deaths, 17,892 million in dollars lost, 93,655 hospitalizations, and 2.37 million doctor visits. The death toll due to air pollution for the first six months in 2014 is four times higher than the total number of deaths caused by SARS in Hong Kong in 2003. (For comparison, from January to June2013, air pollution led to 1,606premature deaths, 18,683million in dollars lost, 100,688hospitalizations, and 3.61million doctor visits.) |
CAN recommends a series of measures, including limiting the growth of cars; setting up pedestrian and low emission zones such as the Des Voeux Road Central Project; and increasing roadside remote sensing equipment to strengthen the control of emissions from petrol and LPG vehicles.
| To tackle marine pollution, the government should accelerate the legislative process to mandate marine vessels to switch to fuels with less than 0.5 percent sulphur content while at berth, and facilitate on-shore power installation at the new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. |
There should also be better overall planning, such as reducing big construction projects in Lautau Island. The government should also continue the joint efforts with the Pearl River Delta (PRD) administration to improve regional air quality by sharing more information.
They should also start to coordinate with the PRD administration to set up an emissions control area (ECA) within the greater PRD waters.
Source: CAN
