Letters | Floods in Hong Kong show preparations for climate change must start now
- Readers discuss the importance of boosting disaster risk management systems, and the reaction on the mainland to Japan’s release of waste from the Fukushima nuclear power plant
Many services were halted as roads, tunnels and railway stations were flooded. Hong Kong should enhance its disaster risk management system for extreme weather events.
Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of rainfall, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Hong Kong may face even more severe and frequent rainfall in the near future.
Disaster risk management systems essentially aim to avoid or decrease the risks of new disasters, strengthen resilience to existing disasters and handle recovery measures after disasters occur. Some examples of disaster risk management efforts are refining the early disaster warning system, expanding drainage capacity to combat flash floods, and raising public awareness of disaster threats or response actions.
Improved disaster risk management policies and strategies would not only reduce risks to safety but also limit socioeconomic losses.
Hong Kong has the potential to become a more disaster-resilient city.
Rainbow Yi Hung Lam, MPhil student in environmental science, policy, and management, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Rage in China over Fukushima water release too extreme
Disinformation about the release of treated waste water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant is rife on social media in China, leading to vandalism. For example, a rock was thrown at a school for Japanese children in Qingdao, while a similar school in Suzhou had several eggs thrown into its compound. Also, a person was detained after throwing a brick at the Japanese embassy in Beijing.
Dicky Cheung, Tseung Kwan O
