CHINA'S exploding economy will cause worldwide environmental damage unless immediate protection measures are taken by the Government, a leading environmentalist, Professor Wu Zhishan, warned yesterday.
'The environmental pollution in China is not confined by our borders,' Professor Wu said. 'Our neighbours in the region, like Hong Kong, will suffer from our air pollution and by what is going into the ocean. No country can expand the way China is without environmental controls and not affect the rest of the planet.
'China needs stricter controls and regulations, and enforcement of those rules. 'There is political talk, but it is full of loopholes.' Professor Wu made his comments at the fourth Pollution in the Metropolitan Environment conference.
'Unless the regulations on the environment are integrated into the political system, the battle to prevent environmental damage can't go very far,' he said.
But Professor Wu placed part of the blame for China's pollution problem on Hong Kong and international companies clamouring to do business in China.
'The industries which come in here have the technology to stop greater pollution,' he said. 'They can save China.'
