Why secretary's announcement seems to be full of hot air
More reasons why Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau's announcement on air quality objectives should be treated with considerable scepticism.
The government's press statement on the revised AQOs says: 'The government will start preparatory work on the amendment of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance with an aim to table the Amendment Bill in the 2012-13 session of the Legislative Council. Taking account for the lead time for completing the legislative process and other necessary preparatory work, including formulation of modelling guidelines and compilation of emissions inventories, it is expected that the proposed new AQOs would take effect in 2014.'
So the government says new revised AQOs require new legislation which has to be put to the Legislative Council. However, a look at the Air Pollution Control Ordinance which deals with AQOs clearly shows that it is completely unnecessary to go to Legco to revise AQOs.
Chapter 311 of the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, Section 7 - Secretary to establish quality objectives - says: 'Any air quality objective may be amended from time to time by the Secretary, after consultation with the Advisory Council on the Environment.'
This is clearly another attempt by the administration to pull the wool over the eyes of the community and to delay the process for yet another two years. The saga of the AQOs started in 2007 when consultants were hired to determine appropriate levels for Hong Kong (Arup was paid US$6 million for an entirely unnecessary exercise which had already been done by the World Health Organisation).
This, together with various internal discussions dragged the process out until 2009 when Public Consultation started. In June 2010 the government declared the public views were too divergent to see a clear way forward and there was silence on the matter until last week.