Being a Hong Konger, I&#x27;m quite surprised that people have to worry about water quality in Northern Europe.<p>I mean, Hong Kong is pretty much downstream from the Pearl River. That water runs through some of the most industrialized areas of China. And if you think I trust Chinese authorities for matters in environmental protection, you&#x27;d be dead wrong. Yet, Hong Kongers generally don&#x27;t worry too much about the water quality around here. People eat the seafood caught around here without second thought. People even swim in the Victoria Harbour. In fact, we hold cross-harbour swim races in winter and nobody seems to get sick from the water.<p>All of this isn&#x27;t to say that people are paranoid. I&#x27;m just surprised that this is an issue.