Hong Kong Taking Major Steps to Address Air Pollution While the
air in Beijing and throughout much of China has been notoriously
polluted in recent weeks, Hong Kong (where I currently live)
does not fare much better. The poor air quality in Hong Kong has
been a source of concern and protest here for many years. Both
residents and environmental groups have long demanded that the
government do more to tackle the problem, as air pollutants
consistently exceed World Health Organization limits as well as
levels set by the Hong Kong government itself. Last August,
pollution levels were the highest in two years around main
business and shopping districts (Central, Western, Causeway Bay,
Mongkok), prompting the government to issue warnings to the
elderly and sick to stay indoors. In fact, a recent study rated
Hong Kong as the third most polluted among Asian cities,
rivaling some of the most polluted cities worldwide. Air
pollution affects both public health and the economy in Hong
Kong. An estimated 7,240 premature d