Winning Clean Air for Hong Kong: Political Obstacles to Change, May 17, Monday, 6:45PM, Agnès b. Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre

An Evening Panel Discussion led by JOANNE OOI, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Air Network with

CARLSON CHAN, Hong Kong S.A.R. Government;
ALEXIS LAU, H.K. University of Science & Technology;
NICHOLAS SALLNOW-SMITH, The Link Management.

Air pollution is Hong Kong’s most serious public health crisis. Research shows that it kills on average, three people every day. While about 80% of the air p …

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Government kicks off public consultation period with announcement of proposed new Air Quality Objectives

Government officially unveiled its proposal to revise the long outdated Air Quality Objectives, kicking off a 4-month long public consultation period today. The consultation document from the EPD website can be downloaded by clicking here.

CAN will post the Government’s proposal document on its website asap. Then, in coming weeks, CAN will analyze and respond to the Government’s proposed new AQOs …

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lungcheung

“Clean up the air one signature at a time”

Clean Air Network is pleased to announce the launch of its campaign, “Clean up the air one signature at a time”, TODAY.

The slogan refers to The Petition for Clean Air which continues to be the centerpiece of CAN’s public messaging. We chose to focalize attention on a petition for two reasons: first, signing a petition is something a member of the public can do; second, this is a concrete deliv …

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Art for Air – Ben & Jerry’s and CAN’s Drawing Contest

“You scream, I scream, we all scream for…CLEAN AIR!”
That’s right, this summer Clean Air Network (CAN) is partnering up with Ben & Jerry’s to promote clean air awareness!

We are hosting a drawing competition so children can draw their artistic impressions of Hong Kong’s air.  Winners of the drawings will receive special ice-cream prizes from Ben & Jerry’s! While we see this as a chance to …

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Understanding how the WHO Air Quality Guidelines apply to Hong Kong’s high daily levels of air pollution

The following is an explanation from Professors Hak kan Lai, Chit-ming Wong and Anthony Hedley from Hong Kong University about why we should be comparing our daily air pollution levels, which are extremely high, to the ANNUAL, rather than short-term guidelines for each of the 4 pollutants studied by the World Health Organization. If you look at the Hedley Environmental Index to see how the annual …

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Press Release: Small Fleets, Big Health Threat – Pre-Euro III Commercial Diesel Vehicles Emit 73% of Roadside PM10

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) recently released the 2010 Hong Kong Air Pollutant Emission Inventory, which revealed that a relatively small number of outdated commercial diesel vehicles (CDVs)[1] are causing a disproportionate amount of pollution at Hong Kong’s roadside.  Removal of these pre-Euro III CDVs could save approximately 64 lives, 6,400 hospital days, and 444,000 doctor v …

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CAN launches unprecedented consumer petition sign-up drive

CAN is launching an unprecedented consumer campaign to fight Hong Kong’s air pollution with the city’s leading restaurants and gyms on 3 March 2010. For six weeks, over 300 restaurants and gyms will conduct a petition drive on behalf of the NGO. At the time of bill presentation (or check-in), customers will be presented with The Petition for Clean Air. Click here for details and full list of parti …

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CALLING FOR LEGCO DEPUTATIONS: Why the anti-idling bill needs your support

You can read the original government press release and the proposed ordinance here.

The Bills Committee for this bill was formed on May 12th and comprises 16 Legislative Councillors, a very large number for such a committee. The size of the committee is an indication of the Bill’s contentiousness. The members of the committee are:

Hon LEE Cheuk-yan (Democrats, also represents unions) – AGAINST t …

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Public Deputations on the Motor Vehicle Idling Bill, 1st Session

On Tuesday the 1st of June 2010, members of Clean Air Network attended the 3rd meeting concerning the Bill on Motor Vehicle Idling. Both opposing parties spoke with passion and clear conviction towards their cause. Whilst drivers’ health and well-being proved the primary concern for the transport organizations, environmental NGO’s firmly advocated the health of the community of Hong Kong as whole.

Summary of arguments:

Against

Driver health
Working conditions
Passenger comfort/safety
Increased pollution
“we have done our part”

For

HEALTH
Gov. duty
progress …

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