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Heat's on as Hong Kong heads for a wall of trouble

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Why you can trust SCMP

Things in life are not always black and white, but one would like to think that a fact is still a fact. In some areas, though, it appears that obtaining factual information is not as easy as it should be.

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Just consider the uncertainties about various health-related issues. A brain tumour is a brain tumour, but the jury's still out over whether mobile phones can cause cancer.

Or consider tanning. Doctors will tell you that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun causes skin cancer, but the rays do induce the body to produce vitamin D. For years, sunbeds were in favour, until scientists warned that they were just as dangerous as soaking up the sun - if not worse.

Just as these scientific findings have sparked considerable controversy, there is a debate raging in Hong Kong over whether tall buildings are having a negative environmental impact. Opinion is divided, with green groups insisting that skyscrapers trap heat and raise temperatures by several degrees in cities such as Hong Kong.

Environmentalists claim skyscrapers block the movement of air through the 'wall effect', thereby stopping the natural cooling process. And the curtain walls of buildings are said to increase the need for air-conditioning. However, those in favour of skyscrapers argue that tall buildings are environmentally friendly, and claim they provide a more energy-efficient solution. According to the pro-skyscraper lobby, the high-rise option also offers a more economical use of land and prevents urban sprawl, thereby reducing air pollution caused by vehicle emissions.

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Recently, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen acknowledged that there had been rising public concern in the past few years about high-density buildings affecting ventilation, leading to an increase in temperatures.

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