Press release: Tourists, citizens sign petition asking “smokestack” tourism industry for change; Cruise lines urged to switch voluntarily to using cleaner fuels while at berth

Clean Air Network launched a petition-signing campaign at the Tsim Sha Tsui Pier today, asking cruise lines to voluntarily switch to using fuels with sulphur content of 0.1 per cent to 0.5 per cent while at berth in Hong Kong and explaining to citizens and tourists the serious impacts of cruise ships and other marine vessels not doing so.

Members of the public who supported the action stuck a b …

READ MORE

Officials urged to heed WHO diesel warning

SCMP
Dennis Chong
 
News that fumes raise cancer risk means officials should clean up and reduce diesel fleet, groups say
 

Lobby groups say that the government should reduce the number of diesel-powered vehicles on Hong Kong roads, as well as tighten emission standards for remaining vehicles, in order to protect pedestrians, now that the WHO has classified diesel exhaust as a car …

READ MORE

Clearly lagging

SCMP

Mike Kilburn fears air pollution in Hong Kong could get even worse, given the latest evidence that clean-up measures are proving ineffective and officials are failing in their duty to protect public health

This month marks a major watershed for air quality in Hong Kong. At the beginning of the month, the Environmental Protection Department said that roadside pollution last year was the wor …

READ MORE

HK lags behind Beijing on air pollution: lobby

SCMP
Adrian Wan

Think tank Civic Exchange says mainland is more aggressive in moving to tackle smog, which has put pressure on city to act on standards for particles.

Hong Kong is lagging behind the mainland when it comes to tackling air pollution, a think tank says in a summary of Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen’s performance in office.

The conclusion from Civic Exchange came after the …

READ MORE

The future of solar mobility and clean air

A fresh look at the latest solar power technology, ship emission and air pollution

Hong Kong sits alongside one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. These ships use dirty fuel and operate close to where people live and work, which means their emissions have a big impact on public health. Is zero emission solar powered shipping technology a possible solution for reducing ship emissions? Can this …

READ MORE

Curious contradiction between the model and the reality

SCMP

Howard Winn

A recent report by Civic Exchange brings up questions as to why Hong Kong’s roadside air pollution has seen no improvements since “series of stringent measures” were implemented in 1990, especially when government figures paint a picture of dramatically declining pollutant levels.

The report points out that an official figure, which claims that pollutant levels (of SO2, CO, Nit …

READ MORE

Less Talk, More Action

Civic Exchange released a public opinion survey of 1,000+ residents, entitled “Less Talk, More Action”.   The survey shows that one in four people are considering emigration in response to the public health threats of Hong Kong’s air pollution, up from one in five in December 2008, when a similar survey was conducted.

Other key findings include:

The most educated are the most likely to consider …

READ MORE

City air is no better with Tang at helm of pollution fight, group says

SCMP
Cheung Chi-fai

Chief Secretary, Henry Tang Ying-yen was tasked last year to co-ordinate the efforts by different departments to meet new air quality objectives, but no progress has been thus far, says the Civic Exchange.

The CE has urged Tang to set a clear policy direction to improve air quality. The EPD is hampered by its lack of expertise in public health issues and government health off …

READ MORE