( e supposed to have their own water trea...)Hong Kong Choked by Growing Pollution Problem,Health

e supposed to have their own water treatment facilities, but pumps that consume expensive electricity are often switched off at night when inspectors are less likely to notice. Young said the situation improved under Hong Kong's last British governor, Chris Patten, who introduced legislation including a requirement that all big projects undergo an environmental impact assessment. "He made some changes that had a positive impact. But afterwards a lot less happened."

The oyster industry has shrunk to just a few farms, and water quality is so bad that those that remain are threatened with closure. Bird numbers have not recovered from a rapid decline in 1996, particularly rarer species, and Young said the bird population mainly consists now of more pollution-tolerant species. His fears are echoed by many here, where worsening air quality and recent scares over contaminated food have put pollution at the top of the political agenda.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang's solutions -- turning notoriously arctic air conditioning systems up a couple of degrees and dressing down for the office over the summer months -- have failed to impress. "It is a total sham and a shame," said Christian Masset, chairman of the environmental pressure group Clear the Air, of the government's policies. "Any excess electricity produced in Hong Kong is simply sold to China instead. As long as that happens, electricity savings cannot result in less pollution. It's purely cosmetic."

Masset said there was a steady improvement in Hong Kong's air quality from the late 1990s, when diesel-fuelled taxis began being phased out and new rules were introduced on diesel for goods vehicles. But in recent years, he says, the situation has worsened dramatically, much of it due to power plants switching from natural gas to cheaper coal. Across the border, China's rampant economic growth has resulted in a surge in demand for energy, and coal-burning plants that were once close
'"/>




Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. Choked Roads, a Trouble for Ambulance Drivers
2. Problems Of a Growing Company
3. Growing trend of delay in completing vaccination schedule
4. Growing tissues
5. Women Growing Up In Poverty At Increased Risk Of Heart Disease
6. The Growing Rise In Clinical Research Could Lead To A Compromise In Quality Of Research And Ethics
7. Extensive Campaigning To Warn Against Children’s Growing Affinity To Fast Food In Britai
8. Another Potential Of Stem Cells Discovered: Used For Growing Cartilage
9. Americans Growing Out Of Shape
10. Kids Face a Slim Chance of Growing Obese, If Breastfed Longer Than Three Months
11. Breast Cancer Survivors Growing in Numbers