Greens put HK air 'shame' on the map

The level of fine particles - specks of pollutants that can penetrate the lungs - in Hong Kong's air is among the worst in more than 500 cities and at least 20 times that of the cleanest metropolis.

Only seven cities of 565 surveyed by the World Health Organisation have a higher level than that found in Central, which also has the greatest concentration of larger particles among more than 1,000 cities.

The annual mean roadside reading of fine particles in Central - 36 micrograms per cubic metre - is exceeded only by Dakar in Senegal, Zabrze in Poland, Accra in Ghana, Kuwait City, Mexicali in Mexico, Antananarivo in Madagascar, and Ulan Bator in Mongolia.

The roadside reading in Central was used as a benchmark to compare with the cities in the WHO report, which did not make clear how many readings were taken in each city, but some were roadside or general.

Friends of the Earth said it was 'disappointing and shameful' that Hong Kong fared worse than developing cities. 'Despite being a top class world financial hub, people in Central are breathing third-world-class air,' said Jo Chan Chun-yim, assistant environmental affairs officer of the green group.

The rankings, released by the WHO in September, did not include Hong Kong because fine particles with a diameter less than 2.5 microns are not listed as a statutory air pollutant in the city.