Air pollution will be worse in seven years than it was in 1997, despite Tung Chee-hwa's plans to spend $30 billion on the environment, experts warned yesterday. A consultant's report submitted to the Advisory Council on the Environment said Mr Tung's measures would bring about a short-term improvement. But it said the increase in population of about one million people every 10 years and the means to transport them meant it would deteriorate again. Council chairman Peter Wong Hong-yuen said more needed to be done. The Government needed to persuade people sacrifices would have to be made to prevent pollution becoming worse in 2006 than it was in 1997. 'We can't keep building new roads. There must be some restrictions to improve the traffic situation, such as prohibiting private cars from entering Central, or making them pay to enter the central business district,' the chairman said, stressing the suggestion was his own personal view. 'The public has the perception that by spending this $30 billion, the environment will be fine, but this is not the case,' he said. The report recommends the Government build more railways and housing estates near them to persuade people to stop using cars, as well as more comfortable and convenient pedestrian areas. Unhealthy air quality meant the Air Pollution Index was often recorded above 100 - the danger level - in 1997.
