Fresh thinking needed to win air pollution battle
Kwong Sum Yin welcomes the government's new plan to tackle air pollution but says the whole of society will need to change its mindset, and make sacrifices, if we are to see clearer skies
When Environment Secretary Wong Kam-sing unveiled the government's plan to improve Hong Kong's air recently, he was joined by representatives from three other bureaus - transport and housing; development; and food and health. The attendance of these other officials was unprecedented and signalled the government's intention to respond to calls for the departments to work together to tackle air pollution.
The plan's announcement also marks another first - the link between public health and air pollution has formally been recognised, as evidenced by the presence of a high-ranking health official. This new plan is to be welcomed.
Some critics, however, have said that it is just old wine in a new bottle. It may be true that many of the measures mentioned in the plan have been brought up in the past, time and again, but the point to focus on is whether these measures can and will be implemented soon.
Take, for example, the retirement of old commercial diesel vehicles. This action has been talked about repeatedly over the past eight years, but little has been done. Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying this year earmarked HK$10 billion to phase them out and discussions between stakeholders are happening in earnest. The success of this measure will be critical in determining whether we will soon see a significant improvement in our roadside air.
This measure could potentially create a domino effect for clean air, but, should it fail to take off, the road ahead for government planners could be an uphill climb, because any policy that follows will have a lower chance of success.
Another key measure to reduce pollution is the proposed requirement for ocean-going vessels to switch to low-sulphur fuel at berth in Hong Kong. The government is currently negotiating with various industry parties to effect it. A five-year study has attributed 519 deaths in the Pearl River Delta region - including 385 in Hong Kong - to the ill-effects of sulphur dioxide from ship emissions. If all ocean-going vessels were to switch to using low- sulphur fuel while at berth, the number of Hong Kong deaths could drop by half.
To succeed, both these measures require all of Hong Kong's citizens to change from thinking only of the present to carefully considering our longer-term well-being. Clean air must be a key element in this future.