Air Pollution a case in Hong Kong 7B Mak Chung Yin, Danny (16) Si Hoi Man, Gloria (18) Wong Chung Sze, Bobo (22) Wu Yu Si, Rain (26) Yeung Lik Yan, Teresa (28)

A. Types of Air Pollution in Hong Kong local pollution (caused by vehicles and power plants) (including roadside pollution) regional air pollution

B. Distribution of areas of poor air quality in HK -Mong Kok, Causeway Bay, Central (districts with heavy traffic) Maximum Annual Pollutant Concentrations and Objectives in 2008

C. Evidence to show the deterioration of air quality in HK urban areas Air Pollution Index is used as in indicator to pollution levels, both "General" and "Roadside" API hit a high level of 149 in some area near the finish line—a level at which those with cardiac or respiratory problems are advised to reduce physical exertion. Causing damage to Hong Kong residents' lungs

C. Evidence to show the deterioration of air quality in HK urban areas The city is frequently cloaked in a noxious smog Rarely see a picturesque skyline According to research at the University of Hong Kong, the air in Hong Kong contains almost three times more soot and other pollutants than New York's and more than twice of that in London

D. Major causes of deteriorating air quality Two air pollution issues local street-level pollution ( Diesel vehicles are the main source) the regional smog problem(caused by a combination of pollutants from motor vehicles, industry and power plants both in Hong Kong and in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region)

Local pollution I) Local Industry – (stationary Pollution) -Largest emission source within Hong Kong, accounting for 92% of the total emission of SO2, and half of that of NOx and RSP

Local pollution II) Roadside pollution (Mobile Pollution)  1. High road traffic density  Motor vehicles, especially diesel vehicles, are the main causes of high concentrations of respirable suspended particulates (RSPs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) at street level in Hong Kong The road traffic density of Hong Kong is among the highest in the world. There are about 530 000 vehicles in Hong Kong but the total road length is about only 1 900 km, i.e. there are 275 vehicles per kilometer in average. about one-fourth of these vehicles use diesel fuel, which is relatively more polluting, and they contribute to about half of the vehicle mileage in Hong Kong.

Local pollution Roadside pollution (Mobile Pollution) 2. Canyon effect The narrow streets, ringed by high density of tall buildings, create a "canyon effect" that traps pollutants along roads pollutants cannot be dispersed effectively on the streets large quantities of respirable suspended particulates (RSP) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) accumulate at roadside

Regional pollution Air pollution floats across the border from the mainland factories, power plants and highways of Guangdong province, where environmental regulations and enforcement are more lax

1. Industrial and commercial activities in PRD Just 12% of the coal plants in Guangdong have emissions-control technologies Due to chronic power shortages, up to 90% of manufacturing plants in the region use backup-electricity generators, which are usually more polluting than grid power Under sunlight, these pollutants generated by these activities undergo photochemical reactions to form ozone and smog. The regional smog problem is especially serious when weak northerly wind prevails in the South China area or when the region is under the influence of subsiding air at the periphery of a typhoon because the ambient air pollutants in the PRD region cannot be dispersed effectively under such conditions.

2. Vehicular emissions in Mainland With the economic development in Guangdong and the increasing affluence of the people, the number of vehicles has risen two-fold from 1.15 million in 1995 to 2.31 million in 2002. Since Euro II emission standards has just been introduced in the Mainland, the regional pollution problem as caused by vehicular emissions has substantially aggravated.

E. Adverse socio-economic impacts of air pollution 1. Health problem raise the risk of pulmonary(related with the lungs) and heart disease The Hong Kong Medical Association estimates that air pollution can exacerbate asthma, impair lung function and raise the risk of cardio-respiratory death by 2 to 3 percent for every increase of 10 micrograms per cubic metre of pollutants Around 1,100 people die and more than 7 million people are sickened every year because of air pollution, according to Hong Kong University research roadside pollution levels are responsible for 90,000 hospital admissions and 2,800 premature deaths every year.

E. Adverse socio-economic impacts of air pollution 2. High Medical costs & lower productivity - in 2000, the total negative impact to the Hong Kong Economy, including cardiorespiratory disease was in excess of HK$11.1 billion The city's business community loses more than $90 million a year in medical costs and lost productivity due to pollution (Because admission to hospital and premature death have effects on productivity)

E. Adverse socio-economic impacts of air pollution 3. Reduce Visibility Declining regional air quality means visibility has also decreased dramatically. In 2004, low visibility occurred 18% of the time – the highest on record, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.  The number of days in which visibility was less than eight kilometers rose to 102 in 2005 from 40 in 1997. Figure 1: Air Pollutants Emitted in Hong Kong and Reduced Visibility Trend

E. Adverse socio-economic impacts of air pollution 4. Acid rain - Acid rain is caused by emissions of compounds of carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur (contained in pollutant)which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. -harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure

E. Adverse socio-economic impacts of air pollution 5. Affect Hong Kong’s image and competiveness - the air quality in Hong Kong is now regularly so poor that reduces long term competitiveness -affect property market and tourism -investors or tourists go to places where the environment is more pleasant with better air quality e.g. Singapore

F. Possible solutions to improve air quality A. Reduce Local Emissions from vehicles (comprehensive motor vehicle emission control programme) 1.control emissions by vehicles by encouraging people to use cleaner fuel e.g. -launch new incentive scheme to encourage early replacement od old diesel commercial vehicles, replacing diesel taxis and light buses with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles - Wider use of hybrid / electric vehicles or other environment-friendly vehicles -Encourage the usage of Environmental Friendly Cars by Offering tax concessions which is a 30% reduction in the First Registration Tax 2.introducing Euro III emission standards 3.Set up Low Emission Zones A low emission zone (LEZ) is a traffic management measure aiming at reducing road transport emissions over a defined geographic area, by restricting certain vehicle types, ages or technologies from entering the zone.

F. Possible solutions to improve air quality 5. Car-free zone / pedestrianisation scheme -In a car-free zone or pedestrisation scheme, automobile is prohibited. Since 2000, the Transport Department (TD) has started to implement some pedestrian schemes in several areas, including Causeway Bay, Central, Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan, Sham Shui Po, Stanley and Shek Wu Hui. Extending the present restriction to all time all type of vehicles in pedestrian streets and traffic calming streets in busy districts, such as Mongkok, Causeway Bay and Central will be helpful in further reducing the roadside exposures by the public. The following figures show the extension of the car free zones for Central, Mongkok and Causeway Bay. 6. Cycling network to major public transport hubs Cycling does not emit air pollutant emissions. Encourage using bicycles to replace short vehicle trips and city driving will help reduce emissions

B. Reduce Local Emissions from power plants / factories Impose an energy tax during periods of peak power use ask electricity producers to use only clean coal or low-polluting natural gas relocating the industries to remote area carry out policies to restrict people to use environmental-friendly machines

C. Reduce Regional Pollution--Cooperation between Hong Kong and the nearby cities (e.g. Shenzhen and Dongguan) 1. Cross-boundary cooperation in environmental protection is necessary Pearl River Delta Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network in 2005, including 16 automatic air quality monitoring stations in the Delta. two governments have worked individually various measures, including Hong Kong Vehicle emission control, including encouragement to use pollution control devices on private vehicles and the conversion of mini-buses to liquefied petroleum gas instead of diesel fuel. Power station emission control, including the use of air-scrubbing equipment and placing emission limits on individual stations.

Reduce Regional Pollution--Cooperation between Hong Kong and the nearby cities (e.g. Shenzhen and Dongguan) Guangdong Vehicle emission control, including further tightening motor vehicle emissions and fuel standards, and recovering vapour from oil depots, tanker trucks and petrol filling stations. Other emission control, including improving energy supply structure, installing flue gas desulphurisation systems in thermal power plants, and stepping up control of emissions from industrial sources.

Reduce Regional Pollution--Cooperation between Hong Kong and the nearby cities (e.g. Shenzhen and Dongguan) the HKSAR Government has been collaborating with the Economic and Information Commission of Guangdong Province on promoting energy efficiency and cleaner production to the industrial enterprises in both places. both sides jointly launched the Hong Kong-Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme in August 2009 to recognize and encourage the continued efforts of Hong Kong businesses in pursuing cleaner production

2. Signing of agreements i the Environmental Co-operation Agreement at the Hong Kong - Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference on August 19 - Both sides agreed to, inter alia, undertake a joint study on the post-2010 air emission reduction arrangements for the region and will strive to complete the study in 2010. ii the Clean Air Charter ask companies to sign the Clean Air Charter, which pledged them to meet strict environmental standards, publish emissions data and boost energy efficiency at factories in Hong Kong and Guangdong. 205 companies and business associations have signed the charter,

Signing of agreements iii Cooperation Agreement to Promote Energy Efficiency, Cleaner Production and Comprehensive Utilisation of Resources to Enterprises in Hong Kong and Guangdong -- jointly conducted a series of promotion activities, technical exchanges and demonstration projects on cleaner production by industrial enterprises, -a five-year “Cleaner Production Partnership Programme” in April 2008 to encourage Hong Kong-owned factories operating in the PRD region to adopt cleaner production technologies and practices, with a view to reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency

3. Increase Energy efficiency -improve the city's inefficient energy use-- by turning down office air-conditioning, encourage using more public transport - implement Energy efficiency standards for domestic electrical appliances the Government has introduced a mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (EELS) all prescribed products are also required to be supplied with energy labels to help consumers in choosing energy efficient products

D. Tree planting/ roof-top greening A green roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil reducing heat gain from roof alleviate urban heat island effect which would accelerate the chemical reactions for pollution formation and air pollutant recirculation.