Email from a Concerned Parent and CAN’s Reply: “Hong Kong Pollution – where to live?”
Dear Sir/Madam,
My husband and I with our two boys have been living in Hong Kong now for nearly a year.
After visiting the doctor 3 time with Allergic Bronchitis in 2 months my little guy is now really ill and he is constantly coughing.
My doctor very bluntly told me that the only real solution will be to move to another country and I have decided to contact you to get your
opinion on the situation. It would seem that he is being affected by the pollution and that he may have long term respitory problems
if we don’t change the currently situation. We live on Tai Hang Road in Jardine’s Lookout. Many local Chinese people at my work
and at my husband’s work have told us if we just move to Tai Po / Stanely or Clearwater Bay the situation will improve as the air is much
better out to those directions but I very much doubt this. They have also suggested eating honey from NZ and getting a air purifier for our apartment…
I would love to hear your opinion on our situation. Are there places in HK where we can go live where the air will in fact be better ?
Since the initial incidents with my son both my husband and I and my other son have started suffering from all kinds of weird and wonderful
ailments. It is all very strange as we are a young and very healthy family. I am now almost daily suffering from headaches and sinus infections…
I will be taking my son to a lung specialist soon as I would also like to get another medical opinion and I will keep you posted on his verdict.
We are now seriously considering a move to Singapore, eventhough we love Hong Kong it is no use living here and being sick all the time.
I look forward to your expert opinion on whether there are in fact places in HK where we could move to improve the current situation.
Thanks in advance for your time and help. I was so impressed when I came across your website and initiative. Well done !!
Kind Regards
[Name witheld]
——————————————————————————————————-
Dear [Name witheld],
Your complaint is very typical.
In fact, Sai Kung is the cleanest district of 18 in Hong Kong.
I gave two talks to primary 6 year kids on Friday last week and was impressed to find that only a couple had chronic respiratory problems. In comparison, CIS kids, to whom I have spoken at least 4 times this year have a much higher incidence of respiratory problems.
To give you some perspective on the seriousness of the problem, which you have obviously guessed. We are this week announcing the results of a parent survey conducted over these past few months in leading pediatricians’ offices. 31% of parents surveyed said their kids had a CHRONIC cough. This is very damning evidence of how serious the child health impacts are.
I don’t want to be the one who says, move out of Hong Kong, but the child health consequences of living here are evidently very serious.
The good thing is, lungs can recover BEFORE child growth ends at the age of 18.
Regarding the South Side of Hong Kong, the Government does NOT monitor air quality on that side of the island.
All I can say is, avoid polluted roadside situations as much as possible. I suggest you sign up for our air pollution alert service, too, to stay on top of the roadside and other pollution in the city. www.hongkongcan.org/alert
I hope this helps.
Joanne
