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Mary Ann Benitez

Green groups yesterday called on the government to do more to reduce air pollution as Hong Kong was shrouded in thick smog for the second time in less than a week.

Roadside air pollution index (API) readings hit 134 in Central and 131 in Causeway Bay at 3pm yesterday, with no relief in sight until at least tomorrow, the Environmental Protection Department said.

The dangerous levels are being blamed on Typhoon Sinlaku, which was due to hit Taiwan early today, combined with still and very hot weather.

Dave Ho Tak-yin, senior environmental protection officer, said: 'Under the influence of a typhoon hovering over the East China Sea, we are experiencing stagnant and hot weather conditions.

'The hot weather, together with bright sunlight, have aggravated the formation of smog in Hong Kong and the South China region.

'Under very still wind conditions, air pollutants cannot be dispersed adequately.'

Last Saturday, smog also blanketed the territory, as street-level readings reached 122 in Central and 119 in Causeway Bay.

Early in July, API readings in Hong Kong hit a record 170. The API measures particles of pollutant chemicals in the air. An API of between 50 and 100 is high. When the level reaches 100, people with heart and breathing problems are advised to avoid busy areas.

Green groups said Hong Kong citizens would not have to suffer dangerous levels of pollution, even with the unstable weather conditions, if the government had taken more drastic environmental measures.

Daphne Mah Ngar-yin, campaigns co-ordinator of Friends of the Earth, said: 'Pollution levels in Hong Kong should be of grave concern to the public.

'No matter if there is a typhoon or not, the pollution is usually very high here.' She said the presence of a typhoon made pollution worse but this could still be mitigated.

'We cannot stop it but we can improve the situation.'

She urged the government to take radical measures, such as introducing renewable energy and controlling vehicle emissions.

'Hong Kong has one of the highest densities of vehicles - 271 per kilometre. Worst still, we have a heavy reliance on diesel,' she said.

Clean the Air chairman Lincoln Chan Wing-fung said: 'The government can and should do more to reduce the level of pollution.'

He said the conversion of diesel minibuses should be speeded up and legislation enacted against idling engines.

The SAR should also work with Guangdong to control cross-border pollution.

He said the API was 'generally high even on a good day'.

The environmentalists also called for a rethink of air quality objectives, which are much higher than recommended standards set by the World Health Organisation.

For instance, Hong Kong has set nitrogen oxide levels at 80 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to the organisation's global standard of just 40, Ms Mah said.



Does HK deserve a brighter future?