For cleaner air, ships at Kai Tak need onshore power
Kwong Sum Yin calls for quicker installation of onshore power for ships
The Kai Tak cruise terminal opened in Hong Kong last month, bringing both anticipation and anxiety. This HK$8.2 billion terminal, which allows large ocean liners to dock in Victoria Harbour, is expected to bring more tourists - and tourist dollars - to Hong Kong. But along with the economic benefits will also come the dark clouds of air pollutants.
We know big ships emit pollutants that will damage public health, and we must act to mitigate it. In March, we initiated a petition to urge cruise lines and the government to better control ship emissions by switching to cleaner fuel while at berth or switching to the use of onshore power. The petition was largely supported by the public and many lawmakers; in just a few days, more than 3,000 signatures were collected.
To raise public awareness about the quality of Hong Kong's air, we measured the level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air at the Tsim Sha Tsui cruise terminal and shared the results with passers-by. We found that the PM2.5 concentrations there, at 44 micrograms per cubic metre, were 76 per cent higher than the World Health Organisation's "safe level" of 25 micrograms per cubic metre.
The government's air pollutant emission inventory report for 2011 indicated that cargo and passenger marine vessels in Hong Kong waters have become the greatest source of our total sulphur dioxide and respirable suspended particulate emissions. An alarming 54 per cent of sulphur dioxide emissions can be attributed to marine vessels - a figure certain to rise with the opening of the cruise terminal.
A report released by Civic Exchange in March noted that 16 ocean liners are scheduled to dock in Hong Kong between June this year and next April, and estimated that these ships will release another 43 tonnes of sulphur dioxide, 44 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and 5 tonnes of PM10 into our air.
Moreover, during the summer, southwesterly winds will disperse these pollutants towards the Kai Tak development and Kwun Tong district. While passengers on the cruise are enjoying their holiday, residents nearby will have to put up with all the pollutants generated.