SCMP
Fiona Tam
Microbloggers liken Beijing authorities’ claims of decreasing air pollution to an April fool’s day joke.
Beijing’s environmental authorities said yesterday that air quality in the capital city in 2011 was better than during the Olympics year of 2008, and that they had already met their target of “blue sky” days for this year, despite growing public concern that officials are cove …
At one o’ clock on 17th December 2011, a crowd of fifty people gathered near Sogo in Causeway Bay to kick off a full day of events aimed at allowing the public a chance to express their feelings about Hong Kong’s air pollution. …
SCMP op-ed
Dr Hildy Fong, school of public health and primary care, Chinese University
From a public-health perspective, Hong Kong is facing a challenge from non-communicable diseases.
The leading causes of preventable death here are cancers, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular diseases and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Non-communicable diseases have risen at a rapid rate in Hong Kong …
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CE candidates accept CAN’s “clean air ballots” and pledge to improve air quality
Last Friday, CAN presented a “Clean Air Ballot” and a big black lung to four Chief Executive (CE) candidates – Albert Ho, Frederick Fung, C.Y. Leung and Henry Tang at a public forum organized by Civic Exchange and six other organizations at Hong Kong University. …
SCMP
Shi Jiangtao
Flights cancelled, roads are closed and sales of medical masks soar as experts warn of the health risks associated with the choking conditions.
Thick fog and smog that have blanketed much of northern China over the past three days are likely to persist at least until tomorrow, meteorological authorities warned yesterday.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled in Beijing and mo …
SCMP
Shi Jiangtao
Amid mounting public pressure, the authorities announced a plan to set up a new air-quality monitoring station to gauge severe smog in Beijing and Tianjin .
But the move, apparently aimed at appeasing the public over a lack of transparency in pollution data, does not appear to have worked, as complaints soared about dense smog that blanketed the capital yesterday.
Citin …
SCMP
Cheung Chi-fai
The level of fine particles – specks of pollutants that can penetrate the lungs – in Hong Kong’s air is among the worst in more than 500 cities and at least 20 times that of the cleanest metropolis.
Only seven cities of 565 surveyed by the World Health Organisation have a higher level than that found in Central, which also has the greatest concentration of larger particles a …
SCMP
Shi Jiangtao
Government reluctance to immediately change monitoring methods reinforces criticism it cannot face up to the grim truth of the urban environment.
The mainland’s top environmental watchdog has finally unveiled a timetable for long-awaited reform of outdated air pollution standards amid mounting public pressure.
But instead of directly answering calls for immediate public acces …
SCMP
Cheung Chi-fai
Petrol and LPG vehicles pumping out colourless emissions face being ordered off the road, while subsidised upgrades will be available for minibuses and taxis.
Environment officials are setting a hi-tech trap for drivers whose vehicles pump out invisible fumes.
The new detection system will be aimed at 490,000 vehicles powered by petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Thes …
SCMP
Agence France-Presse in Beijing
Several mainland celebrities have joined an online campaign aimed at putting pressure on the government to improve the way it measures air pollution, as residents increasingly worry about their health.
Real estate tycoon Pan Shiyi initiated the drive at the weekend, calling on the online community to vote on whether authorities should start using a system th …