Hong Kong chokes under haze and high pollution levels, but clearer air expected with next week’s monsoon
- Fifteen of city’s 16 air quality stations record high to very high levels of health risk
- Weather expert says stale conditions are from lack of wind, but this may improve from Sunday
Hongkongers can expect another smog-filled day on Sunday before monsoon winds bring a breath of fresh air, as 15 of the city’s 16 air quality stations recorded high to very high health warning levels on Saturday evening.
“The Air Quality Health Index is likely to reach the very high health warning level on Sunday afternoon, but the situation may start to get better at night,” a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said on Saturday.
Since early morning, the city has been shrouded in a faint yellow haze and by noon, the Observatory reported that visibility at Victoria Harbour had dropped to a “rather low level” of 2km, worsened by windless conditions.
By 6pm, 12 stations reported a “very high” health risk, with two in Central and Mong Kok reaching the mark at noon, and others in Central and Western district, Island East Causeway Bay, Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Yuen Long, Tung Chung and Tai Po recording similar levels from 1pm.
Three stations in Kwai Chung, Sha Tin and Tap Mun (Grass Island) reported “high” health risks.