Air pollution in Hong Kong

Air pollution in Hong Kong remains a pressing concern, with visibility dropping below eight kilometers for approximately 30% of the year in 2004. This decline in air quality has been linked to a surge in cases of asthma and bronchial infections among residents. However, recent years have shown a notable decrease in the hours of reduced visibility, signaling potential improvements in air quality compared to the preceding decade.

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

Effects

Declining regional air quality means visibility has also decreased dramatically. In 2004, low visibility occurred 18 per cent of the time, the highest on record, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.[1]

Health implications

The mortality rate from vehicular pollution, which includes harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can be twice as high near heavily traveled roads.

A study conducted in the Netherlands found elevated mortality rates among residents living 50 meters from a main road and 100 meters from a freeway. In densely populated cities like Hong Kong, where millions live and work close to busy roads, this poses a significant health risk. The Hong Kong Medical Association estimates that air pollution exacerbates asthma, impairs lung function, and increases the risk of cardio-respiratory death by 2 to 3 percent for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter increase in pollutants.

Local public health studies reveal that roadside pollution contributes to 90,000 hospital admissions and 2,800 premature deaths annually. Additionally, the Australian government has emphasized the health risks of air pollution in Hong Kong, underlining the need for international collaboration to address this issue. It's crucial to note that prolonged exposure to such pollution can also increase the risk of respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders, further underscoring the urgent need for mitigation measures and public health interventions.

Economic impact

As early as 2000, the negative impact on the Hong Kong economy, including cardiorespiratory diseases, exceeded HK$11.1 billion. It's estimated that improving air quality could prevent around 1,600 deaths annually.

Recent evidence highlights the detrimental effects of pollution on Hong Kong's business environment and global competitiveness. James Tien emphasized its multifaceted impact, describing it as a health, lifestyle, tourism, business, and political issue.

Merrill Lynch's downgrade of several Hong Kong property companies due to air quality concerns, coupled with warnings from the head of the Stock Exchange about its impact on investor confidence, underscore the severity of the situation. The consistently poor air quality raises doubts about Hong Kong's long-term competitiveness, prompting recommendations for investors to shift focus to Singapore.

Pollution not only poses health risks to Hong Kong citizens but also hampers the economy by hindering the recruitment of skilled foreign labor. The chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong noted that pollution leads to prospective employees declining offers, suggesting potential future costs if the issue isn't addressed.

According to James Graham, CEO of Jardine Engineering Corp., air quality used to be a selling point for relocating to Hong Kong, but that's no longer the case. As a result, companies may need to offer hardship allowances to attract expatriates, with air quality being a significant factor in relocation decisions.

Causes
Suspended particulates generated from power tool used in road work.

There are more than twenty thousand home improvement projects every year in Hong Kong, affecting more than a million residents[2] (population of HK is around 7.5 million in 2023).[3]

As per the Clean Air Network, 53% of Hong Kong's pollution comes from local sources – power stations, idling engines of cars, trucks and buses and marine emissions.[4] Hong Kong has only 5% of the land of the Pearl River Delta, but it creates 20% of its pollution, far more than its neighbouring cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou.[5][6]

A large portion of this pollution comes from coal-fired power stations in Hong Kong and vehicular traffic. A significant contribution wafts down from the tens of thousands of factories in China's neighboring manufacturing heartland of the Pearl River Delta.[4] The two major electricity companies of Hong Kong, namely China Light and Power and HK Electric Holdings emit more than 75,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into Hong Kong's air daily. At 275 vehicles per kilometer, Hong Kong also has among the highest density of vehicles in the world.[7]

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.[8]

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),[8] and have not been reviewed since it was set up.[9] It is not clear how the levels are determined.[9]

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.[9] Professor Wong Tze-wai, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong commented that the current air pollution index "gives a false sense of security".[9] 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[9]

Street-level air quality regularly falls short of the government's Air Quality Objectives (AQOs), and even further short of the World Health Organization (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.[10] 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 per cent. 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.[10]

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 particles 2.5 micrometres (µm) 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 15 monitoring stations across the region and compares them to WHO standards.

Actions implemented

Switch to cleaner motor fuels

All HK taxis and PLBs now run on LPG.

Sign on taxi showing its new LPG status

Incentives for scrapping pre-Euro IV vehicles

In 2014, an ex gratia payment scheme was introduced to encourage vehicle-owners to scrap about 82,000 pre-Euro VI vehicles.[14] This included a Citybus AEC Routemaster, which attracted controversy for its resulting loss of transport heritage.[15]

Green Groups / Non-Government Organisations

CarbonCare InnoLab

Christian Family Service Centre

Civic Exchange

Clean Air Network -CAN

Clear the Air

Conservation International Hong Kong

Designing Hong Kong

Environmental Association

Friends of the Earth (HK) (since 1983)

Green Council

Green Lantau Association (since 1989)

Green Peace (since 1997)

Green Peng Chau Association

Green Power (since 1988)

Green Sense

Greeners Action

Hong Kong Dolphinwatch Ltd.

Hong Kong Society of Herpetology Foundation

Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden

Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Hong Kong

Produce Green Foundation

Sustainable Ecological Ethical Development Foundation

The Conservancy Association (since 1968)

The Green Earth

The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society

The Nature Conservancy

World Green Organisation

World Wide Fund For Nature Hong Kong (since 1981)[16][17]

Actions discussed

1. 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"),[18] while its campaign slogan in English is "Clean Air for a Cool Hong Kong!"[19] 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.

2. November 2007 vehicle idling ban

Action Blue Sky Campaign: The Action Blue Sky Campaign, organized by the Environmental Protection Department and launched by Chief Executive Donald Tsang in July 2006, aimed to combat air pollution in Hong Kong. Its campaign slogan, "全城投入　為藍天打氣" ("Let all of the city join in to fight for a blue sky"), emphasized the collective effort needed to achieve cleaner air. While the campaign garnered support from the public and business community, including those investing in the Pearl River Delta Region, its effectiveness in improving air quality remains a topic of debate. More information is needed on the specific strategies and initiatives implemented during the campaign, as well as any measurable outcomes in air quality.

November 2007 vehicle idling ban: In November 2007, the government launched a public consultation on a proposal to impose a fixed penalty on drivers who violated a ban on idling, with taxi and minibus drivers expected to be most affected. Despite the proposal, idling remained a prevalent issue due to motorists' failure to heed past campaigns urging engine shutdown while waiting. While it is illegal for drivers to leave their engines running when they exit their vehicles, enforcement has been challenging, with traffic wardens instructed to issue tickets only in cases of "serious" obstruction or multiple public complaints. This selective enforcement has led to private organizations, such as "mini spotters," taking on the role of monitoring idling vehicles and reporting violations to the police. Further information is needed on the enforcement outcomes and the effectiveness of the idling ban in reducing air pollution.

3. 2008–09 Budget measures

In the 2008–09 Budget, Financial Secretary John Tsang proposed a 100 per cent 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. Neither proposal was actually passed.

New goals for 2014

In January 2014, Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah announced the Hong Kong government's intention to update its air quality objectives, originally set in 1990, aligning them more closely with WHO guidelines. Proposed changes include monitoring seven types of emissions, with a focus on pollutants like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead, as well as introducing monitoring for particulates smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5). However, the proposed targets for some pollutants are based on the WHO's loosest interim targets, leading to concerns from environmental experts about their effectiveness.

Furthermore, while measures such as phasing out heavily polluting vehicles, promoting hybrid or electric vehicles, and increasing the use of natural gas were suggested, no concrete actions have been taken yet. Environmental impact assessments for projects like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge were conducted and approved under the old air-quality guidelines, raising questions about their alignment with updated objectives.

Notably, stakeholders including Mike Kilburn from Civic Exchange and Professor Hedley of the University of Hong Kong expressed disappointment with the proposed objectives, citing concerns about their efficacy in improving air quality. Other environmental activists echoed these sentiments, expressing skepticism about the government's commitment to pollution reduction and the lack of a clear timetable for meeting stringent objectives.

See also

Sources and pollutants

More

References
  1. Loh, Christine (5 March 2007). "Hong Kong: how to breathe easier". Hong Kong: how to breathe easier - China Dialogue. China Dialogue. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  2. "訂修噪音條例今起諮詢 管制住宅裝修使用撞擊式破碎機需呈報預繳". 香港01 (in Chinese). 18 Dec 2023. Retrieved 10 Jan 2024.
  3. "Press Releases Detail". censtatd.gov.hk. Retrieved 10 Jan 2024.
  4. "Hong Kong smothered in worst air pollution two years". Reuters. 2 August 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  5. "Hong Kong pollution: How the haze affects every breath you take". Expat Living. 2 April 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  6. "Lost in the haze: China's air pollution crisis". www.greenpeace.org. Green Peace Asia. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  7. "Haze in Hong Kong hits Unhealthy levels". Sure Boh Singapore. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  8. 6.4 Air Quality Objectives - Environment Hong Kong 2006, Environmental Protection Department, Accessed 2007-05-22
  9. Albert Wong, Our air is killing us Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, The Standard, 29 October 2005
  10. Tsang hit for `naive' comments Archived 17 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Mimi Lau, The Standard, 28 November 2006 (quoted during the Business for Clear Air conference)
  11. Pollution index based on index set 20 years ago, p5, South China Morning Post, 30 September 2007
  12. Foo, Kenneth "Action stations as air monitoring fine-tuned" Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine The Standard. 9 March 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2012
  13. "Real Air Pollution Index - Greenpeace East Asia". Greenpeace.org. 17 March 2003. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  14. Fung, Freda (3 April 2014). "The road to cleaner vehicles in Hong Kong and in mainland China". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  15. Leung, Christy (25 September 2015). "Citybus condemns classic Routemaster bus to scrap heap so it can claim Hong Kong clean fuel payout". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  16. "Non-Government Organisations / Green Groups".
  17. "Major Green Groups in Hong Kong". epd.gov.hk. Retrieved 11 Aug 2023.
  18. 曾蔭權冀政府大樓再減1.5％用電 (in Chinese). Hong Kong SAR Information Services Department. 25 July 2006. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
  19. "CE launches Action Blue Sky Campaign". Hong Kong SAR Information Services Department. 25 July 2006. Archived from the original on 2 December 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2007.

20. “Australia Defends Inclusion of Air Pollution in New Travel Warning.” South China Morning Post, 26 Mar. 2009, www.scmp.com/article/674549/australia-defends-inclusion-air-pollution-new-travel-warning. Accessed 7 May 2024.

21. Straif, Kurt, et al. AIR POLLUTION and CANCER. 2013.

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