how China's dirty air becomes Hong Kong's problem - The ...

A landmark study last year found that air pollution increased the risk of dying from any type of cancer by 22% in Hong Kong. An increase of just ... SkiptomaincontentSkiptonavigationAdvertisementNewsOpinionSportCultureLifestyleShowMoreShowMoreNewsWorldnewsUKnewsCoronavirusClimatecrisisEnvironmentScienceGlobaldevelopmentFootballTechBusinessObituariesOpinionTheGuardianviewColumnistsCartoonsOpinionvideosLettersSportFootballCricketRugbyunionTennisCyclingF1GolfUSsportsCultureBooksMusicTV&radioArt&designFilmGamesClassicalStageLifestyleFashionFoodRecipesLove&sexHealth&fitnessHome&gardenWomenMenFamilyTravelMoneyMakeacontributionSubscribeSearchjobsHolidaysDigitalArchiveGuardianPuzzlesappGuardiancontentlicensingsiteTheGuardianappVideoPodcastsPicturesNewslettersToday'spaperInsidetheGuardianTheObserverGuardianWeeklyCrosswordsSearchjobsHolidaysDigitalArchiveGuardianPuzzlesappGuardiancontentlicensingsiteEnvironmentClimatecrisisWildlifeEnergyPollutionTheairwebreatheCitiesWherethewindblows:howChina'sdirtyairbecomesHongKong'sproblemMuchofHongKong’spollutioncomesacrossfrommainlandChina.Photograph:BenjaminHaas/TheGuardianMuchofHongKong’spollutioncomesacrossfrommainlandChina.Photograph:BenjaminHaas/TheGuardianLastmonththerewere300,000doctor’svisitsinHongKonglinkedtosmog–muchofwhichwaftsoverfrommainlandChina.Butinabusytownobsessedwithmoney,willittakeadirecteconomichittowakepeopletothedanger?BenjaminHaasinHongKong@haasbenjaminThu16Feb201708.00GMTLastmodifiedonMon3Feb202012.50GMTAttheageofthree,MargauxGiraudondevelopedsomethingakintoasmoker’scough.Thereafter,shebecamealltoofamiliarwiththeinsideofherdoctor’sofficeinHongKong.Foryears,herfatherNicolasGiraudonwastoldthesamethingbydoctors:“Yourdaughterissensitivetochangesintheweather.”Eventuallyshegrewsoillthatshewashookeduptobreathingmachinesinthehospitalforthreedays,inhalingmedicinedeliveredinamist.Atthatpoint,GiraudondecideditwastimeforthefamilytoreturntohisnativeFrance.“Shewasscared–shedidn’tknowwhatwasgoingon,andshesawthelookonourfaces,”Giraudonrecalls.“HermotherandIwerecompletelyshocked.Whenyouhavechildren,youwantthebestforthem;youwanttoprotectthemasmuchaspossible.”ForGiraudon,thosethreedaystransformedHongKongfromaninternationalcitybustlingwithexcitementandopportunityintoadeathtrapthatwasslowlypoisoninghisfamily.Bornontheisland,Margauxhaddevelopedasthmaticbronchitis,whichcausedherlungcapacitytofallbynearlyathirdcomparedtootherchildrenherage.WhileHongKong’sairpollutionrarelycommandstheattentionofthetoxiccloudthatfrequentlycoversnorthernChina,dubbedthe“airpocalypse”,theairisanythingbutcleanhere.Levelsofcancer-causingpollutantshaveexceededWorldHealthOrganizationstandardsforover15years,risingtomorethanfivetimesacceptablelevelsatitspeak.Inwinterasmuchas77%ofdustintheaircomesfromChinaAsfarbackas2013,thegovernmentcalledairpollutionthe“greatestdailyhealthrisktothepeopleofHongKong”.Despiteawarenessofthedangers,thisnotoriouslypro-businesscityhasmovedataglacialpaceintacklingtheproblem,commissioningstudyafterstudybuttakinglittleconcreteaction.Thefast-pacedbusinessworldiswhatoriginallybroughtGiraudontoHongKongin2009.Inthesixyearsbeforehisdaughterbecamesick,hedidn’texperienceanynoticeableeffectsfromairpollution.The42-year-oldmediaexecutivewenthikinginthemountainsaroundthecityandjoggedalloverhisnewhome,realisingalifelongdreamofworkinginAsia.Hedidn’tbuyairpurifiers,dismissingthecostlymachinesasamarketingtrick.MargauxGiraudondevelopedasthmaticbronchitiswhilelivinginHongKong.Photograph:NicolasGiraudonAfterhisdaughter’shospitalstay,however,Giraudontransformedcompletely.Heboughtadevicetomeasureairpollutionandbecameobsessed.Everyroominhishousewasfittedwithanexpensiveairpurifier,andhecheckedtheairqualityconstantly.“MyflatinHongKongfeltlikelivinginaspaceship,”hesays.“Iwasmeasuringthelevelofpollution24hoursaday,measuringhumiditytocombatmould,tomakesureeverythingwaswithinacceptablelevels.”Giraudonwouldhearhisneighbour’schildrencoughingatnight,andknewtheydidn’thaveairfilters.“Ibecametheguynobodyinvitedfordinner,”herecallswithasigh.“Especiallythenewcomers,whowereallreallyexcitedtoarriveinHongKong–andthenIwouldcomewithmyreadingsandwarnings.Peopledidn’twanttohearaboutit.”Giraudonbegantakinghistestingequipmenttohisdaughter’sschoolandwasshockedtodiscovertheairwasterrible.Buthealsofoundanothergroupofpeoplewhodidnotwanttohearabouttheproblem:schoolofficials.Helaunchedacampaigntocleantheairthere,andwasmetwithresistanceateveryturn.Thecityisnotoriousforcapitalismrunamok,andtheauthoritieshavelongpreferredthestatusquoorveryslowchange–aperpetualcomplaintamongactivists.Inasignthatignoranceaboutthehealtheffectsofpollutionextendstotheverytop,oneformerchiefexecutivefamouslysaid:“Lifeexpectancy[inHongKong]isthehighestonearth,higherthanthatinJapanthesedays.Itmustbeourair.”Theyearhemadethatstatement,pollutionlevelsweremorethanfourtimesWHOrecommendations.HongKongisoneofthemostdenselypopulatedplacesintheworld.Photograph:DaledelaRey/AFP/GettyImagesThesourceofthesmogWhileequippingeveryroomofaschoolorhomewithfilterscancleantheair,it’sonlyaplasteroverthelargerproblem:tacklingpollutionatthesource.EmissionsfromcarsandcontainershipsaresomeofthelargestcontributorstoHongKong’ssmog.Olddieselvehiclesstillnumberinthetensofthousands,andshipssailingintothecity’sport,oneofthebusiestintheworld,areallowedtoburnhighsulphurfuelrightupuntiltheydock.Powerplants,meanwhile,relyalmostentirelyonfossilfuel,withcoalsupplying52%ofthecity’senergy.MuchofHongKong’spollution,however,waftsacrosstheborderfromChina.About60-70%ofparticulatemattercomesfromthemainland,accordingtoastudycommissionedbythecity’sEnvironmentalProtectionDepartment.Inwinter,whenthewinddirectiontendstoblowmorepollutantstowardsHongKong,asmuchas77%ofdustintheaircomesfromChina.HongKonghassignedaseriesofagreementswithGuangdongprovincedirectlytothenorth–buttheyareunenforceable,stymyingeffortsbythelocalgovernmentandactiviststohaveameaningfulimpact.Inthemeantime,thehealthimpactonHongKong’spopulationissevere.Thereweremorethan1,600prematuredeathslastyearbecauseofairpollution,accordingtoHongKongUniversity’sschoolofpublichealth.Inthefirstmonthof2017researchersestimatethereweremorethan300,000doctor’svisitslinkedtosmog.Alandmarkstudylastyearfoundthatairpollutionincreasedtheriskofdyingfromanytypeofcancerby22%inHongKong.Anincreaseofjust10microgramsofPM2.5–atinyairborneparticulatelinkedtocancerandheartdisease–heightenedtheriskofdyingofbreastcancerby80%.Aclean,blue-skiedbillboardagainstthecity’spollutedskyline.Photograph:PhilippeLopez/AFP/GettyImagesWithagovernmentthatisscarcelyaccountabletoHongKongresidents,environmentalcampaignersarefightinganuphillbattletocontainevenlocalsourcesofpollution.Thecity’sleader,knownasthechiefexecutive,iselectedbya1,200-strongcommitteemadeupofelites,whereChinahasconsiderableswayoverthevotes.Onlyhalftheseatsinthelegislaturearedirectlyelected,withtheremaininglawmakersreturnedbyprofessionalorganisationsthatoverwhelminglysupportBeijing.TanyaChan,chairmanoftheenvironmentalaffairspanelinthecity’slegislature,recallsconstituentsclamouringforthegovernmenttocleanuptheair,fearingforthehealthoftheirchildren.“Thegovernmentcantryharderandtheyshouldpushharder,”shesays.“Weneedtobeimprovingfuelstandardsandexpandingtheuseofelectricvehicles.”Cleanerairthemostchallengingproducttosell:everyonewantsitbutit’snotjustsomethingyoubuyChanisinfavourofintroducingcongestionpricingtosomeofthecity’smostcloggeddistricts,butlawmakersarehamstrungbyapoliticalsystemwhereallpowerrelatedtogovernmentspendingorleviesrequiresapprovalfromthechiefexecutive.“Heisonlyaccountabletoasmallelectioncommittee,wheremostcomefrombusinesssectors,”Chansays.“Wehavenochoicebuttobreathethisair.”Thecity’sairqualitystandards(governmenttargetsforcleanair)remainedunchangedfor27yearsbeforeeventuallybeingupdatedin2014.ButtheystillfallshortofWHOguidelines.“Weneedtoimproveourairqualitystandardtocatchupwithinternationalstandards,”Chanadds.“ThatprocesshasbeenabitslowandIhopethegovernmentwilldomore,especiallyforthePM2.5s.”TheEnvironmentalBureauonlybeganpublicisingHongKong’sPM2.5figuresin2012,nearlysevenyearsafteritbeganmonitoringtheharmfulpollutant,andonlyafterBeijingbeganpublishingthesameinformation.Butlocalsareincreasinglyconcerned,andhungryforinformation.HongKong’sairpollutioncausedmorethan1,600prematuredeathslastyear.Photograph:JeromeFavre/EPATheactivistsOnarecentevening,tuckedawayonthesecondfloorofasleepycafe,abouttwodozenpeoplegathertoreceiveacrashcourseinHongKong’spollutionsituation.Themostlyyoungcrowdareamixofofficeworkers,salesmenandartists,allunitedbytheirpreviousignoranceofthedangersintheairandtheirangerattheofficialstheysaykepttheminthedark.LeadingthemeetingisPatrickFung,chiefexecutiveoftheHongKongCleanAirNetwork.The31-year-oldhasbecomethefaceofthefightforbetterairqualityinthecity,andwhilehe’softendressedintailoredshirtsandtrouserstoensurehismessageistakenseriously,hisshoulder-lengthhair,goateeandglassesevokeanimageofenvironmentalactivistsfromyearspast.Alotofthebureaucratsdon’twanttobeblamedforsomething,.TheyjusttrytokeepignoringitandignoringitInmanywaystheformeradvertisingexecutivelivesbythephrase:“There’snosuchthingasbadpublicity,”takinganyopportunitytocounterthenarrativethatdirtyairisafactoflife.“I’mjustadvertisingsomethingelsenow:cleanerair,”Fungsays.“It’sthemostchallengingproducttosell:everyonewantsitbutit’snotjustsomethingyoubuy,somesacrificesneedtobemade.”Onthemostbasiclevel,Fungandhisfellowcampaignerswantthegovernmenttoupdateitsairqualitytargets.TheHongKonggovernment’stargetsforannualairpollutionarethreeandahalftimeshigherthanthoserecommendedbytheWorldHealthOrganization.ButbeyondthatareahostofproblemsuniquetoHongKong:thecityisoneofthemostdenselypopulatedplacesintheworld,withitsmostcrowdeddistrictnearlyfourtimesmorepackedthanIslington,London’sdensestborough.Narrowstreetssurroundedbyhigh-riseshavecreated“streetcanyons”,whichcantrappollutantsbetweenbuildings.Fung’sgroupadvocatesforlargeswathsofthecity’smainthoroughfarestobeturnedovertopedestrians,similartoNewYork’sTimesSquareorplansforOxfordStreetinLondon.CindyWonglistenstoFung’sspeechwithraptattention,bombardedwithinformationshehadneverheardbefore.“PeopleinHongKongspendalltheirtimeworrying:pricesareexpensive,rentishigh,salariesarelow,sonoonehastimetocareaboutpollution,”shesaysafterthemeeting.“Thegovernmentshouldhaveastrictpolicytocontrolpollution;thegovernmentshouldleadandpeoplewillfollow.”PatrickFung:‘[Cleanair]shouldbeabasicright.’Photograph:BenjaminHaas/TheGuardian“Theairseemsmuchbetterinforeigncountries,inEurope,”Wongadds.Althoughshe’sneverbeen,sheoftenwatchedwithenvyastravelprogramshighlightedtree-linedstreetsandplentifulgardensincitiesabroad.“AlotofHongKongersknowaboutthepoorairquality,buttheyfeelpowerless,”Fungsays.“It’sanissueofjustice–thisshouldbeabasicright.”AfterfiveyearsheadingtheenvironmentalNGO,hesayshecantelltheairqualitybyhisnosealone.“Everyoneinthisofficecantelljustbythesmelloftheair.”IgnoringtheproblemThevastmajorityofHongKongpeopledon’thaveairpurifiers,andthosethatdotendtobewealthierandbettereducated,accordingtoPeterBrar,manageratairqualitytestingcompanyRenaudAir,whichalsosellsfilters.Heestimatesabouthalfofallexpatshaveatleastoneairfilterintheirhomes.“Alotofthelocalpeoplewho’veneverhadanopportunitytoliveabroaddon’tknowanybetter,”Brarsays.“Theythinkgoingtothedoctorandgettingsickthreetimesayearisnormal;it’snotnormal.”AlthoughmanyinHongKongmaynotbeawareofthehazardsofdirtyair,thegovernmenthasoveradecadeofdataillustratingtheproblem–butithasbeenslowtoact.“Alotofthebureaucratsdon’twanttobeblamedforsomething,”Brarsays.“Theyjusttrytokeepignoringitandignoringitaslongaspossible–andsavingmoney,savingmoneyuntiltheyhavetodosomething.“HongKongisaverypro-businessenvironment,”headds.“Thegovernmentdoesknowtheairqualityisreallybad–buttheytrytohidetheproblem.”Inatownobsessedwithmoney,thefactthatairpollutionisestimatedtohavecausedHK$20.bn(£2.2bn)worthofeconomiclossesin2016maychangemoreminds.BrarpointstoasystemwherebuildingsinHongKongcanapplyforacleanaircertificatefromthegovernment–buttheprocessonlytestsforPM10,particulatematterakintodustorpollen,entirelyignoringthesmaller,moreharmfulPM2.5.What'sairpollutionlikewhereyouare?ShareyourexperiencesReadmoreHesayscompaniesthatsellairpurifiersfrequentlymeetresistancefromschoolsandbusiness,withexecutiveseitherindenialorunwillingtospendthemoneyrequiredtoprovidecleanair.WhenGiraudonwantedtopresentaprofessionalreportathisdaughter’sschool,Brarofferedtotesttheairqualityforfree,butwasalsorebuffedbyschoolofficials.Otherschoolshavebeenmorereceptive–particularlyinternationalschoolsthathavemoremoneycomparedtogovernment-runinstitutions.Giraudon,however,hasleftbehindhisbattleforclassroompurifiersinfavourofasuburbofAnnecy,asmallFrenchcitythathasthereputationofhavingthecleanestlakeinEurope.HavingarrivedlastDecember,GiraudonreportsthathisdaughterMargauxalreadyseemstobedoingbetter.FrequentlysickinHongKong,shehasyettofallill,iscoughinglessandnolongerneedstocarryaninhaler.AftereightyearsoflivinginHongKong,Giraudonadmitshemissestheexcitement,opportunitiesandlowtaxes,whichmaxoutat15%ratherthanFrance’s45%.“ButIprefertopaytaxthantokillmychildren,”hesays.GuardianCitiesisdedicatingaweektoinvestigatingoneoftheworstpreventablecausesofdeatharoundtheworld:airpollution.ExploreourcoverageatTheAirWeBreatheandfollowGuardianCitiesonTwitterandFacebooktojointhediscussionTopicsCitiesTheairwebreathePollutionHongKongAsiaPacificHealthChinaAirpollutionfeaturesReusethiscontentcomments(…)CommentinghasbeendisabledatthistimebutyoucanstillsigninorcreateyourGuardianaccounttojointhediscussionwhenit'sbackcomments(…)CommentinghasbeendisabledatthistimebutyoucanstillsigninorcreateyourGuardianaccounttojointhediscussionwhenit'sbackEnvironmentClimatecrisisWildlifeEnergyPollution