Air pollution will worsen before it starts to improve, the Environmental Protection Department director warned yesterday.
Robert Law said the 'regional problem' in the Pearl River Delta was getting worse and Hong Kong may not see the results of anti-pollution initiatives for some time.
'But within a few years, we will start to see the situation improve significantly,' he told a French and German chambers of commerce lunch.
Measures to reduce emissions from diesel vehicles may not show immediate results, while cross-border industrial pollution appeared to be worsening, he said.
There was a sense of urgency to make pollution black spots such as Causeway Bay into pedestrian areas, and talks were under way with the Transport Department, he said.
'I would hope we could get some pedestrian schemes in place quite quickly.' Mr Law also said the Democratic Party, which is opposing an increase in fixed ticket fines, should reconsider its position in the case of smoky vehicles.
