Air pollution worst in 18 years in shopping areas

Hong Kong’s core business and shopping districts of Central, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok were enveloped in dangerously high air pollution levels for a combined total of more than 184 days last year, according to research by Friends of the Earth.

It was the worst year recorded since the air pollution index (API) was introduced 18 years ago.

The environmental group went through the API data for 2013 and found there were 184 days when the index recorded at roadside air monitoring stations in the three districts was above the 100 level specified as harmful.

That compares with 142 such days in 2012 and 172 days in 2011.

The worst-hit district was Central, where on 83 days last year the index topped 100, compared with 54 days in 2012.

The number of days with roadside API over 100 in Causeway Bay and Mong Kok was 61 and 40, respectively.

Friends of the Earth environmental officer Adrien Chen Kam-cheuk urged the government to speed up the introduction of electronic road pricing to discourage traffic entering Central.