Hong Kong to see 'drastic improvements to air quality'

Drastic improvements to Hong Kong's air quality have been promised to occur within the next five years. The city's campaigning under-secretary for the environment, Christine Loh Kung-wai has pledged to see reductions in air pollution and help to cut down on harmful emissions.

She has promised to clear the streets of trucks and buses that produce the highest levels of air pollution and therefore have the biggest impact on the health of Hong Kong's residents. Ms Loh Kung-wai aims to get these high-emission vehicles off the roads within the next two years. 

It is expected that a new scheme, which will see catalytic converters replaced on public light buses and around 20,000 taxis, will be approved before the summer. This could help to reduce street level pollution, as will plans to retrofit some buses with catalytic reduction devices.

Ms Loh Kung-wai is also attempting to push through new legislation that will mean that all ships docking at Hong Kong's port will have to switch to cleaner burning fuels, as opposed to bunker oil, which produces high levels of air pollution.

As new legislation and plans are being put into place to reduce air pollution, Ms Loh Kung-wai says that the second half of this year is likely to show improvements in air quality. Currently the city is on track to meet with its goals for reducing emissions, she told the South China Morning Post.

However, the most recent data from the government has revealed that roadside air pollution is actually getting worse. The under secretary is adamant that improvements will definitely occur, despite these findings.

Even if emissions are reduced, resulting in lower levels of air pollution, Hong Kong will still suffer from ambient pollution, which will continue to impact visibility. This is caused by emissions that spread from the industrial region of the Pearl River Delta and is often the cause of severe smog throughout the city. Even if street level pollution is reduced, Hong Kong will continue to be affected by this.