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Air pollution is possibly Hong Kong's most apparent and pressing environmental issue and one which has implications for the health of the population and the attractiveness of the SAR as a place in which to live and invest.
In common with other environmental media reviewed in this section, the absolute assimilative capacity of Hong Kong's airsheds is not known. Whilst the setting of AQOs allows for some evaluation of the significance of current levels of air quality, a more detailed understanding of the true assimilative capacity would help to set criteria and targets for air quality in the future.
Given the complexities of determining global assimilative capacity for greenhouse gases, it is not possible within the context of this report to draw any conclusions regarding 'assimilative capacity' in Hong Kong. However, it is appropriate to consider what could be defined as a sustainable contribution in terms of Hong Kong's share of global emissions reduction. The predicted increase in Hong Kong's GHG emissions can be compared with the objectives of the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 which seeks (for Annex I countries) to reduce emissions by at least 5% below 1990 levels by the period from 2008 to 2012. The extent to which Hong Kong can contribute to such international effort will depend upon the types of measures selected to tackle GHG emissions in the strategy adopted, as well as the extent to which the strategy is enforced through legislation, policy, good practice and political will. The greatest potential for emissions reduction may be through direct means such as fuel switching and efficiency at the emissions source and by indirect means such as reducing consumption of electricity.
Local environmental quality is also affected extensively in Hong Kong by the prevalence of road transport noise. Although statutory controls are in place to ensure that (most) new housing developments are not located in areas where noise cannot be mitigated below excessive levels, around 15% of the population is already subject to excessive noise. Although land use change in Hong Kong is relatively rapid when compared with other countries, the exposure of the population to excessive noise will not be significantly altered for many years simply through redevelopment of housing and places of work. A series of measures are needed to address the problem of excessive noise, from more rigorous standards for construction site noise (with greater penalties for offenders and stricter enforcement), through to controls on noise emissions from vehicles and traffic management measures to reduce road traffic noise at source.
Trends in air pollutant emissions within Hong Kong suggest that significant action will be needed to prevent further loss of assimilative capacity. The transport sector is a major source of air pollution within Hong Kong and whilst measures to switch fuel sources for taxis and light buses from diesel to LPG will bring some benefits, continual growth in private traffic and commercial vehicles poses a long term threat to air quality. A strategic approach to policies and measures for emissions reductions is needed to tackle the causes of the pollution problem, and sector-wide initiatives such as energy efficiency, demand management and fuel switching offer potential economic and environmental benefits.
The regional air quality situation is also of concern. Whilst efforts have been made to liaise and co-operate with planning and environmental protection authorities in Guangdong to tackle pollution issues, the scale of the problem requires renewed impetus, as expressed in the 1999 policy address in which a number of co-operative measures were announced including a regional air quality study to help formulate long term measures to prevent pollution.
Without an appropriate strategic response (and political commitment) to the issue of worsening air quality, a continued increase in the incidence of respiratory illness and other health effects is likely, together with worsening visibility from photochemical pollution. These effects increase the social and economic burden of pollution and as air quality declines and receives further media attention, it is possible that tourism will decline and Hong Kong will become less attractive to companies and individuals seeking to locate and invest in the SAR. Worsening air quality may also result in ever-tighter emissions controls on existing and new industrial and commercial developments, placing a financial burden on commerce as expensive pollutant abatement technologies become necessary. Pursuing reactive rather than proactive measures to control or mitigate pollution is not a sustainable path since it is both resource inefficient and uneconomic, pushing up regulatory and permitting costs for business, and potentially acting to limit future growth.
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