LIVING in a 'country' environment in the northern New Territories, one would expect to be relatively immune from the bulk of Hong Kong's pollution problems. However, on a recent Sunday I looked across the valley from our estate to see what appeared to be heavy rain.
It was, in fact, smog: heavy pollution trapped by the atmospheric effects of Tropical Storm Gary. A day later I awoke with a sore throat and bad cough. This evening I rushed to the bathroom with a coughing fit and brought up disgusting thick, black phlegm - the sort of thing one might expect from a heavy smoker. Moreover, In the seven years I have been in Hong Kong I have twice been in hospital for operations to my nasal passages and sinuses to alleviate the effects of pollution. The South China Morning Post's current campaign against the poor air quality in the city is to be applauded. There are two immediate measures which would go a long way to alleviating the problem.
Firstly, we need to ban the further import and registration of diesel-powered light vans and taxis and replace them with unleaded petrol-powered vehicles. Drivers would complain about the extra cost of petrol vs diesel. The answer is easy - reduce the tax on unleaded petrol. The Government has more than enough cash in the coffers to absorb the loss of revenue.
The second measure is to implement extremely strict emission controls for businesses, employ enough inspectors to ensure prosecutions and put in place severe fines for offenders. At the moment, it is cheaper for factories to flout the law than it is to comply with legislation. Make the fines in the millions of dollars range and I guarantee they will come around - if the bosses have no social conscience then hit them with something they do understand.
To combat pollution and protect the environment in other ways requires a strong commitment and the political will to spend money on the problem. Unfortunately, Hong Kong's business-orientated legislature has no desire to do anything about it as long as the great god 'Profit' rules. Those in power need to realise that, in the long term, the cost of standing idly by is incalculable.
PAUL MARSKELL New Territories
