Even the chief executive is moved to comment when the city turns on one of its increasingly infrequent clear days
Taking advantage of a blue sky and smog-free harbour, the chief executive yesterday prefaced a speech on clean government and business with a comment on the unusually clean air and low pollution.
'Welcome to the third ICAC symposium. And to all our visitors from out of town, a special welcome from Hong Kong with its blue sky and clean air,' he told an international group of graft fighters and company executives at Wan Chai's Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Donald Tsang was introducing his guests to an increasingly uncommon sight - blue sky, white clouds and buildings clearly visible across the harbour.
Central yesterday recorded its lowest air pollution index range of 16 to 18 on its general above-ground monitors this year. There was not one day with this low range in Central in the first quarter of the year and only one day last month had a comparably low range.
Central's roadside monitors recorded a higher range of 36 to 42; zero to 25 is rated as low pollution, 26 to 50 as medium.
'Today shows how beautiful and attractive Hong Kong could be if we could get our act together,' said Choy So-yuk, a legislator with the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong. 'Clearly even Mr Tsang recognised the importance of the issue - now let's see if he has the will to do something.'