Firm leadership urged in fight for better air (STANDARD) 09月 18日 星期二 05:30AM
Hong Kong and Guangdong should examine the possibility of establishing cross-border air quality jurisdiction and create a specialized agency to be responsible for managing air q
uality, a think-tank says.
The think-tank Civic Exchange in a report on air pollution also said the SAR should learn from London and Los Angeles on having strong government leadership for air quality management.
It says the government should learn from the two cities, which have reaped benefits from tougher emission targets and innovative anti-pollution measures.
"There is an urgent need to devise a comprehensive air quality management plan to bring various stakeholders together," Civic Exchange chief executive Christine Loh Kung-wai said.
She added that air pollution has become the most serious environmental problem for Hong Kong as it is affecting public health and the city's ability to attract foreign investment.
Loh said political leadership and multi-stakeholder collaboration were critical to the successes of London and Los Angeles in improving air quality.
The government should follow Los Angeles's example of introducing more stringent air quality objectives and set stricter emission standards to curb growing pollutant emission trends.
According to the report, the city managed to improve critical levels of air pollution suffered during the 1970s and 1980s through tough policies, which were opposed by businesses or specific industries.
"Air quality jurisdictions defined along topographic patterns in the State of California may be pointing out a way forward for Hong Kong," the report said.
On electronic road pricing system, the think-tank advised the government to follow London's congestion charging scheme, and set up a low emission zone. "If you look at what other financial centers do to improve the air quality... perhaps [business people] don't need to worry about money or people to be relocated from Hong Kong," Loh said.
The report comes after a weekend of high levels of air pollution in Hong Kong, with the roadside air pollution index reaching the "very high" level.
The Hong Kong Observatory explained this was due to a high-pressure weather system.
The bad air quality situation is expected to last until Friday.