User:Kamrynkinsey/Air pollution in Hong Kong

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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.

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.

Actions Discussed
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.

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.