Scientists say Hong Kong can put a better sandstorm forecasting system in place but they doubt it is worth the investment for such rare events.
Alexis Lau Kai-hon, of the University of Science and Technology, said Monday's sandstorm - which pushed the air pollution index off the 500-point scale - was an exceptional event that did not deserve more attention than roadside air pollution.
Responding to the public debate on whether the city should step up its forecasting of sandstorms, Lau said Hong Kong had the technical capability and modelling skills to do this but he doubted if the problem should be taken too seriously.
'It is questionable whether we have to invest so much time and resources for sandstorms of such a magnitude that might only come once in 10 years or more.'
He said meteorological agencies on the mainland already had rich forecasting data on sandstorms and all the city needed to do was to step up co-operation with them.
His view was echoed by Dr Fang Ming, a retired scientist who in 1996 confirmed that dust from northern China was transported to the city.
'In the past we never thought the dust could come from so far away. But in fact it happens quite frequently, though no one notices as the local background pollution is already high,' he said.