Hong Kong chokes as higher than normal pollution levels spark health warning for elderly and those with heart or respiratory illnesses
- Environmental Protection Department said it recorded higher than normal pollution levels since noon on Saturday
- Air pollution level expected to remain higher than normal until the advent of stronger winds
Hong Kong’s air quality was abnormally poor on Saturday under the influence of a high pollution background airstream combined with fine weather, officials said.
The Environmental Protection Department said it had recorded higher than normal pollution levels since noon, with the Air Quality Health Index at Tuen Mun reaching 10+ at 6pm, meaning the risk to health was “serious” – the highest on the government’s five-tier scale.
Authorities said that when the health risk was in the “very high” range – the fourth level on the scale – or above, the elderly and those with heart or respiratory illnesses were advised to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities to a minimum or avoid them.
“The sunshine enhances photochemical smog activity and the rapid formation of ozone and fine particulates in the Pearl River Delta region,” a department statement said.
It added the high level of ozone also promoted the formation of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant.
Hong Kong’s record for hot nights over 28 degrees smashed by September
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, the weather would remain mainly fine with moderate easterly winds in the next few days. There may be one or two rain patches on Sunday morning but the weather would remain dry for the rest of the day, it forecast.
Later in the week, winds would become stronger and there would be a few showers over coastal areas under the influence of the monsoon.
“It is expected that the air pollution level will remain higher than normal until the advent of stronger winds,” the statement said.
On Sunday afternoon, an anti-mask law march, which has not received police approval, is expected to take place from Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui to the high-speed rail station in West Kowloon.
