Air pollution in Hong Kong - Wikipedia

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 ... AirpollutioninHongKong FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch OverviewoftheairpollutioninHongKong Ontwocloud-freedays,thehazesituationcandifferdramaticallydependingontheseasonandthereforeonthedirectionofthewind. AirpollutioninHongKongisconsideredaseriousproblem.In2004,visibilitywaslessthaneightkilometresfor30percentoftheyear.Casesofasthmaandbronchialinfectionshavesoaredduetoreducedairquality.However,inrecentyears,thehoursofreducedvisibilityinHongKonghavedecreasedbysignificantamountscomparedtotheprevioustenyears.[1] Contents 1Effects 1.1Healthimplications 1.2Economicimpact 2Causes 3Air-qualitymonitoring 3.1AirPollutionIndex-EPD 3.2RealAirPollutionIndex-Greenpeace 4Actionsimplemented 4.1Switchtocleanermotorfuels 4.2Incentivesforscrappingpre-EuroIVvehicles 5Organizationsworkingagainstairpollution 5.1ClearTheAirHongKong 6Actionsdiscussed 6.1July2006ActionBlueSkyCampaign 6.2November2007vehicleidlingban 6.32008–09Budgetmeasures 6.4Newgoalsfor2014 7Seealso 8References 9Externallinks Effects[edit] Decliningregionalairqualitymeansvisibilityhasalsodecreaseddramatically.In2004,lowvisibilityoccurred18percentofthetime,thehighestonrecord,accordingtotheHongKongObservatory.[2] Healthimplications[edit] Themortalityratefromvehicularpollutioncanbetwiceashighnearheavilytravelledroads,basedonastudyconductedintheNetherlandsatresidences50metresfromamainroadand100metresfromafreeway.[3]SincemillionsofpeopleinHongKongliveandworkincloseproximitytobusyroads,thispresentsamajorhealthrisktocityresidents.TheHongKongMedicalAssociationestimatesthatairpollutioncanexacerbateasthma,impairlungfunctionandraisetheriskofcardio-respiratorydeathby2to3percentforeveryincreaseof10microgramspercubicmetreofpollutants.[3]Studiesbylocalpublichealthexpertshavefoundthattheseroadsidepollutionlevelsareresponsiblefor90,000hospitaladmissionsand2,800prematuredeathseveryyear.In2009theAustraliangovernmenthighlightedthatairpollutioninHongKongcouldexacerbatesomemedicalconditions.[4][5] FormerChiefExecutiveDonaldTsangdeclaredthatthehighlife-expectancyofHongKongdemonstratesthatconcernsoverairqualitywerenotjustified. ThelifeexpectancyinHongKongisamongthehighestintheworld...youcancometoonlyoneconclusion:wehavethemostenvironmental-friendlyplaceforpeople,forexecutives,forHongKongpeopletolive.[6] ProfessorAnthonyHedley,chairofcommunitymedicineatHongKongUniversity,said:"Tsangisbadlyadvisedoncurrentpublichealthissues."HedleyaddedthatairpollutionlevelsinHongKongwereextremelyhigh,andcouldaffectthelungs,bloodvesselsandheart.[6]JamesTien,formerChairmanoftheLiberalPartyofHongKong,retorted,"Can[Tsang]reallybeconfidentthat,ifpollutioncontinuestoworsen,willhebeabletopromisethesamelifeexpectancyforourchildrenandforourgrandchildren?"[7] Economicimpact[edit] Evenasearlyas2000,thetotalnegativeimpacttotheHongKongEconomy,includingcardiorespiratorydiseasewasinexcessofHK$11.1billion.[8]About1,600deathsayearmightbeavoidedifairqualityimproves.[9] MadeawareoffreshstatisticalandanecdotalevidencethatpollutionisdrivingawaybusinessandhurtingHongKong'sglobalcompetitiveness,JamesTiencalledairpollution"ahealthissue,alifestyleissue,atourismissue,abusinessissue,andincreasinglyapoliticalissue."[7] MerrillLynchdowngradedseveralHongKongpropertycompaniesbecauseofairqualityconcerns,andtherehavebeenwarningsfromtheheadoftheStockExchangethatpollutionwasscaringinvestorsaway.[7]ItsaidthattheairqualityinHongKongisnowregularlysopoorthatits"long-termcompetitivenessisinsomedoubt",andadvisedclientstoswitchintodevelopersinSingaporeinstead.[9] PollutionisdramaticallyharmingnotonlythehealthofcitizensofHongKongbutalsoitseconomy,particularlyrelatingtotheabilitytoattractskilledforeignlabour.[10] ThechairmanoftheDanishChamberofCommerceinHongKongsaideachyearatleasttwoorthreepeopledeclineofferstoworkintheHongKongofficesofmembercompaniesbecauseofpollution:"It'sgoingtocostusinthefutureifwedon'tcleanuphere". "Fiveyearsago,airqualitywasn'taconcernwhenpeopleconsideredwhethertorelocatetoHongKong",saidJardineEngineeringCorp.ChiefExecutiveJamesGraham."Inthepast,oneoftheadvantageswascleanair.Wecannolongersaythat".ALondon-basedhumanresourcesconsultantrecommendsthatcompaniespaya10percenthardshipallowancetolureexpatriates,partlybecauseofairquality.[11] Causes[edit] AspertheCleanAirNetwork,53%ofHongKong'spollutioncomesfromlocalsources–powerstations,idlingenginesofcars,trucksandbusesandmarineemissions.[12]HongKonghasonly5%ofthelandofthePearlRiverDelta,butitcreates20%ofitspollution,farmorethanitsneighbouringcitiesofShenzhenandGuangzhou.[13][14] Alargeportionofthispollutioncomesfromcoal-firedpowerstationsinHongKongandvehiculartraffic.AsignificantcontributionwaftsdownfromthetensofthousandsoffactoriesinChina'sneighboringmanufacturingheartlandofthePearlRiverDelta.[12]ThetwomajorelectricitycompaniesofHongKong,namelyChinaLightandPowerandHKElectricHoldingsemitmorethan75,000tonnesofcarbondioxideintoHongKong'sairdaily.At275vehiclesperkilometer,HongKongalsohasamongthehighestdensityofvehiclesintheworld.[15] Air-qualitymonitoring[edit] AirPollutionIndex-EPD[edit] TheEnvironmentalProtectionDepartment(EPD)inHongKongwasestablishedtosolveproblemsandprovideforalonglastingacceptablelevelofairquality.[16] InJune1995,insteadofadoptinginternationallyacceptedbenchmarkindexforpollution[vague],itsetuptheAirPollutionIndexasanindicatortopollutionlevels,both"General"and"Roadside". AirQualityObjectives(AQOs)forsevenwidespreadairpollutantswereestablishedin1987undertheAirPollutionControlOrdinance(APCO),[16]andhavenotbeenreviewedsinceitwassetup.[3]Itisnotclearhowthelevelsaredetermined.[3] InOctober2005,TaskForceonAirPollutioncriticisedtheGovernmentfordeludingitselfwithapollutionindexthatisa"meaningless"indicatorofhealthrisks.[3]ProfessorWongTze-wai,attheChineseUniversityofHongKongcommentedthatthecurrentairpollutionindex"givesafalsesenseofsecurity".[3]GaryWong,aprofessorattheChineseUniversityofHongKong'sDepartmentofPaediatricsandSchoolofPublicHealth,saidthatunderthecurrentindex,"someharmfulpollutioncomponentsaren'tevenrecorded."Inaddition,hepointedoutthatthereisnostrategicplanoratimetabletotackletheproblem,unlikeinothercountries[3] Street-levelairqualityregularlyfallsshortofthegovernment'sAirQualityObjectives(AQOs),andevenfurthershortoftheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)AirQualityGuidelines,revisedinOctober. AcademicscalledforHongKongGovernmenttoimmediatelyupdateitsairqualityobjectivessetalmosttwentyyearsago.[6]Forexample,on19and20November2006,roadsidelevelsofrespirablesuspendedparticulates(RSPs–equivalenttoPM10)exceededtheWHOguidelinesbyatleast300percent.ProfAnthonyHedleyoftheUniversityofHongKongsaidinSeptember2007thatifHongKong'sAirPollutionIndexwasbasedonWHOrecommendedlevels,ourreadingswouldbe"absolutelyskyhigh"formostoftheyear.[17]SecretaryforEnvironment,TransportandWorksSarahLiaoSau-tungsaidtheWHOtargetsweretoostringent.[6] Airqualitymonitoringbythedepartmentarecarriedoutby11generalstationsandthreeroadsidestations.On8March2012,thedepartmentstartedreportingdataonfinesuspendedparticulatesintheaironanhourlybasis,thatarealeadingcomponentofsmog.ItbeganregularmonitoringofPM2.5levels,whichmeasureparticles2.5micrometres(µm)indiameterorless,atthreestationssince2005,butthedatawereneverpublicized.[18] RealAirPollutionIndex-Greenpeace[edit] InSeptember2008,GreenpeaceEastAsia'sHongKongofficelaunchedits"RealAirPollutionIndex"[19]aspartofacampaigntogetthegovernmenttoupdatetheAirPollutionIndextomatchWHOguidelines.TheRealAirPollutionIndexreportshourlypollutionlevelsfrom15monitoringstationsacrosstheregionandcomparesthemtoWHOstandards. Actionsimplemented[edit] Switchtocleanermotorfuels[edit] AllHKtaxisandPLBsnowrunonLPG. SignontaxishowingitsnewLPGstatus Incentivesforscrappingpre-EuroIVvehicles[edit] In2014,anexgratiapaymentschemewasintroducedtoencouragevehicle-ownerstoscrapabout82,000pre-EuroVIvehicles.[20]ThisincludedaCitybusAECRoutemaster,whichattractedcontroversyforitsresultinglossoftransportheritage.[21] Organizationsworkingagainstairpollution[edit] ClearTheAirHongKong[edit] CleartheAirisacharityorganisationcommittedtoimprovingairqualityinHongKong. Currentprojectsinclude: Diesel–Recentgovernmentpoliciescentredonvoluntaryschemestophaseoutoldpollutingdieselvehicles(preEuro3)haveprovenineffective.Furthercampaignshavetomandateacompulsoryandscheduledphasingoutofoldpollutingvehicles. Energy–Aimtoreduceharmfulpollutants(PM2.5)frompowerstationemissionsthroughmorestringentAirQualityObjectives(AQO).WorktoimproveenergysavingsandefficiencyinallpublicandprivatebuildingsacrossHongKong. Events&Education–Participatinginand/ordrivingvariousterritorywideenvironmentaleventsandeducationalprogramsoncleanair. IdlingEngines–SuccessfulidlingenginepatrolshavehighlightedawarenessamongthepublicandthegovernmentofincreasedroadsidepollutionleadingtoabanonidlingenginesacrossHongKongtobetabledatLegco. IndoorAirQuality(IAQ)–FreeIAQassessmentsforschoolstobeextended;thefirstcampaignstartedApril2008. Marine–Researchconductedtoimplementa"smokyvesselspotter"scheme.MoreneedstobedonetoestablishaCleanPortPolicyscheme. Tobacco–ClearTheAirisadvocatingtheGovernmenttolicensealltobaccoretailers,pressingtheFinancialSecretarytoincreasetobaccotax,pressingLegcotorescindtheflawedqualifiedestablishmentexemptionsandeducatingthepublicthatthetruecostofsmokingtoHongKongsocietyisinexcessof$73.32billionperyear. TownPlanning–ClearTheAirdefendsthebenchmarkof"canyoneffect"andElectronicRoadPricing(ERP)toauto-regulateurbantrafficdensity. Actionsdiscussed[edit] July2006ActionBlueSkyCampaign[edit] Mainarticle:ActionBlueSkyCampaign TheActionBlueSkyCampaignwasanenvironmentalcampaignorganisedbytheEnvironmentalProtectionDepartment,andlaunchedbyChiefExecutiveDonaldTsanginJuly2006.ItscampaignsloganinChinesewas"全城投入　為藍天打氣"("Letallofthecityjoinintofightforabluesky"),[22]whileitscampaignsloganinEnglishis"CleanAirforaCoolHongKong!"[23]Thecampaignhopedtowinsupportfromthepublicaswellasthebusinesscommunity,includingthosebusinessesinvestinginthePearlRiverDeltaRegion. November2007vehicleidlingban[edit] InNovember2007,thegovernmentlaunchedapublicconsultationontheproposalwhichwouldimposeafixedpenaltyofHK$320ondriverswhowouldviolateabanonidling,withtaxiandminibusdriverslikelytobearthebruntoftheban.Thegovernmentsaiditsactionisduetothefailureofmotoriststoheedmanypastcampaignsswitchoffengineswhilewaiting.Taxiandminibusdriverswereopposedtotheproposal.[24] Itisillegalforanydrivertoleavetheirenginerunningiftheygetoutoftheirvehicle.[25]ThecourtshavebeenawardingfinesofHK$700.[26]Itisalsoillegalfortaxistoloiterandminibusestostoplongerthannecessarytopickuporputdownpassengers.Itisalsoillegaltoparkanywhereexceptinadesignatedparkingplace.Thismeansthatthevastmajorityofdriverswhoidletheirenginesarealreadyinviolationofatleastoneexistingtrafficsafetylaw. However,trafficwardensareunderstrictpolicyguidelinesnottogiveoutanyticketsunlesstherehasalreadydevelopeda"serious"obstructionoftheroadwayortherehavebeenmultiplecomplaintsmadebythepublic;thisisthe"SelectiveTrafficEnforcementPolicy"(STEP).[27] Trafficsafetypolicingofidlingvehicles,therefore,fallstoprivateorganisationslike"minispotters"whoactasvolunteertrafficwardens,makingstatementstopolicethatcanbeprosecutedwithouttrafficwardenshavingtoissueticketsdirectlytothetransporttrade. 2008–09Budgetmeasures[edit] Inthe2008–09Budget,FinancialSecretaryJohnTsangproposeda100percentprofittaxdeductionforcapitalexpenditureonenvironmentallyfriendlymachineryandequipmentinthefirstyearofpurchase,toencouragethebusinesscommunitytogogreen.Healsosuggestedshorteningthedepreciationperiodofthisequipmentfromtheusual25yearsto5years.Neitherproposalwasactuallypassed. Newgoalsfor2014[edit] InJanuary2014,SecretaryfortheEnvironmentEdwardYauTang-wahannouncedthattheHKgovernmentwouldupdateitsairqualityobjectives,putinplacein1990,bringingthemclosertoWHOguidelines.Accordingtotheproposals,whichwillbesetthroughlegislationbuthaveyettobeapproved,seventypesofemissionswillbemonitored.Respirableandfineparticulateswillalsobemonitored,butlessstringentlyduetotheirmorepronouncedhealthimpact.TargetssetforthreeofthesevenenvironmentalpollutantsaretobebasedontheWHO'sloosestinterimtargets.Sulphurdioxide,nitrogendioxide,carbonmonoxideandleadwouldbesubjecttomonitoring.Monitoringofparticulatessmallerthan2.5 µm(PM2.5)wouldbeintroducedundertheproposals,butwillbeloosestofthethreeWHOinterimtargets.YauassertedsomelocalpollutionhadrootsinmainlandChina,butdidnotmentionanyongoingdialoguetoaddresstheissuewithmainlandauthorities.YaualsodidnotaddressroadsidepollutioninHongKong.[28]Intotal,22measuresinallweresuggestedtocontributetowardsmeetingthenewobjectives.Suchmeasureswouldincludephasingoutheavilypollutingvehicles,promotinghybridorelectricvehicles,andincreasingtheuseofnaturalgas,butnoactionshaveyettobetaken.EnvironmentalimpactassessmentsofprojectssuchastheHongKong-Zhuhai-Macaubridgewereconductedandapprovedundertheoldair-qualityguidelines.[28]MikeKilburnfromCivicExchangeandProfessorHedleyoftheUniversityofHongKongexpressedtheirdisappointment,sayingthatittoolittle,andtoolongoverdue.Kilburnsaid:"Itisamovethatwehavebeenwaitingyearsforyearsbutweareextremelydisappointedastheobjectivesarenotstrictenoughtomakeanypositiveimpactonairquality."[29]Otherenvironmentalactivistssharedlittlehopeingovernmenteffortstoreducepollutionandlamentedthehalf-heartedimplementationofmeasures,andtheelusivenessoftimetableformeetingthemoststringentobjectives.[28] Seealso[edit] HongKongportal EnvironmentofHongKong AirPollutioninChina AirpollutioninMacau References[edit] ^"TheHealthEffectsofAirPollutioninHongKong🇭🇰".MyHealthPortal.Archivedfromtheoriginalon30June2014.Retrieved14November2013. ^Loh,Christine."HongKong:howtobreatheeasier".HongKong:howtobreatheeasier-ChinaDialogue.ChinaDialogue.Retrieved7November2019. ^abcdefgAlbertWong,OurairiskillingusArchived4June2011attheWaybackMachine,TheStandard,29October2005 ^Barrett,Rosanne(26March2009)."AustraliaDefendsInclusionofAirPollutioninNewTravelWarning".SouthChinaMorningPost.Retrieved25December2016. ^Barrett,Rosanne(25March2009)."City'sAirIsBadForYou". ^abcdTsanghitfor`naive'commentsArchived17October2007attheWaybackMachine,MimiLau,TheStandard,28November2006(quotedduringtheBusinessforClearAirconference) ^abcJonathanCheng,Lotofhotaironpollution,claimsTienArchived17October2007attheWaybackMachine,TheStandard,4December2006 ^IpChinChung,Dan(Autumn2006)."PutridAirPutsHeathatRisk:Howtocopewithit"(PDF).ImprovingHongKong.3:4.Archivedfromtheoriginal(PDF)on10July2007.Retrieved11November2007. ^abOurfutureupintheairArchived4June2011attheWaybackMachine,WilliamPesek,TheStandard,8December2006 ^HongKongWheezesasChina'sIndustrialEconomyBelchesSmog,Bloomberg,13October2005 ^"HongKongPollutionSendsExpatstoSingapore".TheStalwart.23May2006. ^ab"HongKongsmotheredinworstairpollutiontwoyears".Reuters.2August2012.Retrieved22January2018. ^"HongKongpollution:Howthehazeaffectseverybreathyoutake".ExpatLiving.2April2014.Retrieved22January2018. ^"Lostinthehaze:China'sairpollutioncrisis".www.greenpeace.org.GreenPeaceAsia.Retrieved22January2018. ^"HazeinHongKonghitsUnhealthylevels".SureBohSingapore.18January2018.Retrieved22January2018. ^ab6.4AirQualityObjectives-EnvironmentHongKong2006,EnvironmentalProtectionDepartment,Accessed2007-05-22 ^Pollutionindexbasedonindexset20yearsago,p5,SouthChinaMorningPost,30September2007 ^Foo,Kenneth"Actionstationsasairmonitoringfine-tuned"Archived26June2015attheWaybackMachineTheStandard.9March2012.Retrieved9March2012 ^"RealAirPollutionIndex-GreenpeaceEastAsia".Greenpeace.org.17March2003.Retrieved2October2011. ^Fung,Freda(3April2014)."TheroadtocleanervehiclesinHongKongandinmainlandChina".SouthChinaMorningPost.Retrieved2November2015. ^Leung,Christy(25September2015)."CitybuscondemnsclassicRoutemasterbustoscrapheapsoitcanclaimHongKongcleanfuelpayout".SouthChinaMorningPost.Retrieved2November2015. ^曾蔭權冀政府大樓再減1.5％用電(inChinese).HongKongSARInformationServicesDepartment.25July2006.Archivedfromtheoriginalon11March2007.Retrieved13May2007. ^"CElaunchesActionBlueSkyCampaign".HongKongSARInformationServicesDepartment.25July2006.Archivedfromtheoriginalon2December2006.Retrieved13May2007. ^WinnieChong,"'Idle'talksparksheateddebate"Archived10November2007attheWaybackMachine,TheStandard,3November2007 ^"Cap374GReg44".HongLonge-Legislation.Retrieved17March2017. ^"MiniSpotters–HongKong".Minispot.org.Archivedfromtheoriginalon27July2011.Retrieved2February2011. ^TrafficSafetyistheGoal-CleanerAiristheResult ^abcNg,Joyce(18January2012)."Clean-airtargetsdon'tmeasureup,criticssay",SouthChinaMorningPost ^Foo,Kenneth(18January2012)."Clearingtheair"Archived11May2013attheWaybackMachine.TheStandard. Externallinks[edit] EnvironmentalProtectionDepartment CleartheAir MiniSpotters GreenpeaceHongKongAirPollutionIndex vteAsiapollutiontopicsAirpollutionNotableincidentsDuststorm 2010Chinaduststorms Forestfiresandhaze 1997SEAhaze 1997Indonesianforestfires 2005Malaysianhaze 2006SEAhaze 2009SEAhaze 2010SEAhaze 2013SEAhaze 2015SEAhaze 2016Malaysianhaze 2016SEAhaze 2017SEAhaze 2019SEAhaze 2019Vietnamforestfires Airradioactivecontamination 1982BukitMerahradioactivepollution Bycountries China HongKong Macau India Malaysia Taiwan Recurrentissues Asianbrowncloud AsianDust Shamal SoutheastAsianhaze Counter-measures ASEANAgreementonTransboundaryHazePollution OperationHaze PollutantStandardsIndex GreatGreenWall(China) WaterpollutionNotableincidentsWaterradioactivecontamination 2011FukushimaDaiichinucleardisaster Marinepollution 2016Vietnammarinelifedisaster 2019KimKimRivertoxicpollution PollutionofthePasigRiver Bycountries China Watercrisis India Japan Philippines Vietnam vteAirpollutioninAsiaSovereignstates Afghanistan Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China Cyprus EastTimor(Timor-Leste) Egypt Georgia India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Japan Jordan Kazakhstan NorthKorea SouthKorea Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal Oman Pakistan Philippines Qatar Russia SaudiArabia Singapore SriLanka Syria Tajikistan Thailand Turkey Turkmenistan UnitedArabEmirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen Stateswithlimitedrecognition Abkhazia Artsakh NorthernCyprus Palestine SouthOssetia Taiwan Dependenciesandotherterritories BritishIndianOceanTerritory ChristmasIsland Cocos(Keeling)Islands HongKong Macau Category Asiaportal Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Air_pollution_in_Hong_Kong&oldid=1055915529" Categories:EnvironmentofHongKongAirpollutioninChinaAirpollutionbyregionHiddencategories:WebarchivetemplatewaybacklinksCS1usesChinese-languagescript(zh)CS1Chinese-languagesources(zh)ArticleswithshortdescriptionShortdescriptionmatchesWikidataUseHongKongEnglishfromFebruary2017AllWikipediaarticleswritteninHongKongEnglishUsedmydatesfromJanuary2020AllWikipediaarticlesneedingclarificationWikipediaarticlesneedingclarificationfromAugust2012 Navigationmenu Personaltools NotloggedinTalkContributionsCreateaccountLogin Namespaces ArticleTalk Variants expanded collapsed Views ReadEditViewhistory More expanded collapsed Search Navigation MainpageContentsCurrenteventsRandomarticleAboutWikipediaContactusDonate Contribute HelpLearntoeditCommunityportalRecentchangesUploadfile Tools WhatlinkshereRelatedchangesUploadfileSpecialpagesPermanentlinkPageinformationCitethispageWikidataitem Print/export DownloadasPDFPrintableversion Inotherprojects WikimediaCommons Languages 中文 Editlinks