Public Deputations on the Motor Vehicle Idling Bill, 2nd Session
2nd meeting for Anti-Idling deposition. LegCo
Yesterday, Monday 7th of June 2010, the Legislative council hosted the second session of public deputations concerning the idling bill. Those of the transport industry firmly maintained their stance and continued to voice concerns about driver’s health and safety. Taxi and bus drivers unrelentingly pushed for further exemptions arguing that, due to the high temperature inside the vehicle, they and the passengers may suffer from heat-stroke and dehydration. These fears were quickly subdued with responses from Dr. Yu (the Hong Kong Paediatric society) and Dr. Tam (The Hong Kong Asthma Society), whose presence and medical authority greatly influenced the proceedings. “Strokes depend on a host of factors” explained Dr Tam, such as the individuals’ fitness or age, and although elevated temperatures put stress on the body, it does not necessarily result in adverse health problems. Those that are employed in hot kitchens or street workers that labor under the sun are exposed to similar conditions for extended periods of time. Dr Yu pointed out that taxi drivers would only be subjected to such discomfort for short and manageable periods of time and could, of course, always leave the scene if the environment became unbearable.
The two doctors represent the most vulnerable to Hong Kong’s air pollution, those suffering from asthma and young children. “From a medical perspective the advantages of the bill are indisputable” affirmed Dr Yu. This statement alone should have sufficed to drive the council into passing the bill there and then. Both medical professionals stressed the overwhelming health complications directly related to Hong Kong’s air pollution. Due to chronic exposure to pollutants a staggering 10% of children suffer from Asthma, the highest percentage GLOBALLY. Epidemiology research has confirmed the direct link between air pollutants and premature deaths, pulmonary exacerbations, asthma development, viral diseases and even tumors. With over 80 00 hospital days and millions in health expenditures one cannot help but wonder why the health department has remained completely silent.
Even faced with such staggering health concerns, the taxi and bus companies continued to demand exemptions. They insisted that the government should not gamble with the livelihood of professional drivers and should rather adopt a ‘step by step’ with the bill applying to private cars first. However, this idling bill has taken over a decade to be implemented and in light of such unprecedented pollution levels “public heath cannot be sacrificed for personal comfort” (Mr. Mike Kilburn- Civic exchange).
It was through the proposals of engineer Mr. Nigel Lam (CEO of Electric transport System limited) that the possibility of an agreement between the opposing parties emerged .He suggested construction modifications, window solar films and sustainable technologies which would allow the aircon to remain on for a further 20 minutes. Mr. Lam declared that these technologies were “nothing special or complicated” and could be run using electrical power generated by wind or solar energy. The implementation of this equipment would quell any concerns regarding the drivers’ and passengers’ health and comfort. This suggestion was enthusiastically received with the meeting terminating with a unanimous request for further investigation into these technologies. Progress at last.
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