Hong Kong's ranking of 71st in a global quality-of-living survey this year had the community up in arms. Regional rival Singapore secured 28th position in a table dominated by European cities, with Vienna topping the list for the second year in a row. Melbourne, Auckland and Wellington all placed in the top 20 of the annual survey by Mercer, a personnel consultancy. In Mercer's companion index of 'eco-cities' - which includes waste removal, air pollution and traffic congestion - Singapore ranked 22nd and Hong Kong finished 142nd.
In another ratings survey on expatriate living conditions, published in March by consultancy ECA International, Hong Kong was again beaten by Singapore. We were ranked eighth in the region, with Singapore crowned the best city. Australian and Japanese cities again did well. Air pollution was highlighted by the consultancy as a major reason for Hong Kong's weak showing. Like Mercer, ECA measured factors such as housing, health services, leisure facilities, infrastructure, personal safety and air quality.
But what about local residents' perceptions of the quality of life here? Chinese University's Quality of Life Index, measuring social, economic and environmental factors, showed a further downward movement last year. Housing affordability was seen to have worsened, and the human swine flu scare dragged down health factors.
It appears that outside and domestic opinions converge: our quality of living is not satisfactory, and is perhaps even deteriorating in some respects.
It is high time that the government and community firmly focused on improving Hong Kong's quality of life. Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has launched a plan for massive infrastructure construction. He has also dealt with the financial crisis and its aftermath (although we are still calling for continued support for small and medium-sized enterprises). Our economic links with mainland China have also been enhanced in depth and breadth, thanks to the joint efforts of government and business. For the remainder of Tsang's term, the business community feels that raising our quality of living should be high on his list of priorities.
In the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce's submission to the chief executive on this year's policy address, we highlighted the importance of making Hong Kong a good place to live and do business. The goal is not just to improve the environment and attract and retain foreign talent, but to allow all who live and work here to benefit.
The chamber's members, local and international firms alike, feel strongly about the need to clean up the environment. We have called for firm and decisive action to improve air quality, especially roadside emissions. The government should search for new ways to create incentives for the replacement of old buses and lorries, and to promote green transport such as electric cars and buses. We have also called for higher fuel standards for vessels.