New air quality targets for Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s government yesterday pledged to update air quality objectives which have been in place in the country since 1987.

Secretary for the environment Edward Yau launched a four-month consultation designed to elicit the views of the public on the ways in which the government should seek to improve air quality.

Making reference to the air quality guidelines produced by the World Health Organization in 2006, Mr Yau said that the government should strive to ensure that the country’s air quality is able to protect public health.

"We have to seek the views of the public on the package of measures for reducing emissions, the price the community is willing to pay and the pace at which the control measures should be taken forward," he said.

The Earth Times, meanwhile, recently reported that pollution levels in Hong Kong were increasing, with up to a million people said to be considering leaving the city because of the poor air quality.

Written by Lauren Steadman