Guest Comments by Civic Exchange

Editor's Note: Civic Exchange is a Hong Kong public-policy think-tank.

HONG KONG – We've released two papers on the performance of the Donald Tsang administration in tackling Hong Kong's air pollution and on how an incoming administration can reduce the impact of poor air quality on public health.

The findings echoed recent announcements that 2011 was the worst-ever year for roadside pollution in Hong Kong and that China's Ministry of Environmental Protection has released new air-quality objectives (AQOs) for China.

“The Chinese mainland is much more aggressive than Hong Kong in setting AQOs. This happened because Hong Kong senior officials lack the understanding and courage to set demanding AQOs and use them,” said Civic Exchange CEO Christine Loh.

One Civic Exchange paper, Air Quality: Report Card of the Donald Tsang Administration (2005–2012), presents data from the Hedley Environmental Index showing that roadside levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have risen unchecked and that an estimated 7,240 premature deaths, 528,388 avoidable hospital-bed-days and 49 million avoidable doctor visits can be attributed to Hong Kong's persistently poor air quality during Tsang's time in office. The paper concludes that air quality poses as great a risk to Hong Kong's economic future as to public health.

Hong Kong “has delivered some successful initiatives, but the systemic disconnects that underpin the failure to manage NO2 have undermined these successes and pose new threats to the community,” said Mike Kilburn, Civic Exchange's head of environmental policy.

High NO2 concentrations occur where emissions from aging diesel buses and trucks, poorly maintained taxis and minibuses and non-road mobile machinery are trapped in poorly ventilated street canyons. NO2 levels are so high that future developments generating more NO2 emissions (like a proposed third airport runway) are unlikely to comply with the standards required under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance and legally could not proceed.

The government's failure to control roadside pollution and its delay in setting new AQOs over fears that major infrastructure projects may not be approved has undermined public trust even more.

The second paper, Principles and Measures to Improve Air Quality – Policy Recommendations for a New Administration, sets out seven initiatives that could swiftly reduce air pollution where it poses the greatest threat to public health – at the congested roadsides in districts like Causeway Bay and Mongkok.

The government proposes to combine the subsidised replacement of catalytic converters for public buses and taxis with on-road monitoring of LPG and petrol vehicles – both to control NO2 emissions. This is a welcome example of integrated policy-making that targets Hong Kong's most pressing problem with both a “stick” and a “carrot", making it more acceptable to both vehicle owners and the Legislative Council. We hope for much more of the same – and soon.

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