Delta factory slowdown has saved HK lives

SCMP

October 2, 2009

Mike Kilburn, environmental programme manager, Civic Exchange

In his Monitor column (Why economic recovery is a clouded prospect for HK September 23), Tom Holland noted that clearer visibility due to reduced pollution was a silver lining to the cloud of factory closures in the Pearl River Delta caused by the economic crisis and asked whether the cost of cleaner air was worth the price.

However, poor visibility represents just one small part of the costs that air pollution imposes on the community. The Hedley Environmental Index, which tracks air pollution and its impact on public health, shows that along with lower visibility, there has been a corresponding health dividend from the cleaner air. Compared to the same period last year, the lower pollution in the first eight months of 2009 reduced the number of avoidable deaths by 252, hospital bed days by 13,505 and doctor visits by 820,000.

Hong Kong still generates plenty of its own pollution and, even when enjoying blue skies, local emissions are also imposing a heavy burden of sickness on the community, as is attested by the 547 premature deaths, 40,992 preventable hospital bed days and 3.94 million avoidable doctor visits in the same period that the community suffered despite the reduction in economic activity in the Pearl River Delta.

However, experience from London, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Los Angeles and other large cities shows that, where there is a will, the technology exists to have clean, healthy air and for business to flourish.

When offered the choice between clean air and a healthy economy, we have no reason not to ask for and expect both.

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