Air Pollution and Harm to Our Health Air pollution in Hong Kong is now a serious threat to our health. It causes discomfort and illness in children and adults, increases such events as increased blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke and respiratory illnesses, and results in increased health care utilization at all levels.

	Part I: Goal and Plan My government's goal will be to improve outdoor air quality to the point where air pollution no longer poses a significant risk to human health as it does at present. Air Pollution is the primary environmental challenge for Hong Kong today that impacts public health and economic development. My plan is designed to create the necessary foundation within 24 months so that real progress can be made within five years.

Part II: Efforts on Four Fronts

Extent of Crisis Related to Air Pollution

200		Air pollutant concentrations are now 200% higher than the World Health Organisation Guidelines 2006.
6,800,000		Family doctor visits each year for respiratory problems.
64,000		Hospital bed-days a year , mostly for heart, lung and blood vessel diseases.
1,600		Deaths a year , mostly from heart attacks, stroke, pneumonia and other lung diseases.
21,000,000,000		Value of the benefits of air quality improvement would be more than $21 billion a year.

B. Taking a Comprehensive Approach Polluting emission sources must be attacked on all fronts for effective control. My government will: 1. Focus on Vehicular Emissions a. •  Achieve pollution reduction from all sources – trucks, buses, vans, cars etc. through replacing old vehicles and using cleanest fuels. b. •  Use demand-side management – road pricing and road use restrictions. c. •  Expand railway – take traffic off road. d. •  Improve urban planning – reduce street canyon effect and expand pedestrian zones. e. •  Stop idling engines – legislate expeditiously. 2. Reduce Marine Emissions a. Require ships to reduce speed in harbour to burn less fuel – thereby emitting less pollution. b. Require ships to use clean fuel and emissions abatement technologies – use clean fuels for propulsion and auxiliary engines in harbour; and fit catalytic reactors, scrubbing, slide valves and fuel additives to reduce emissions. c. Develop long-term ‘green' port policy - as is being done in other leading ports. 3. Further reduction of Power Plant Emissions a. Promote demand-side management – set up independent initiatives for energy conservation with particular focus on peak load reduction. b. Introduce emission surcharge – impose a new green levy on pollution loads as a means to incentivising further emission reduction. c. Set reduction targets beyond 2010 – devise long-term targets to allow for efficient planning.

Tighten AQOs to match WHO guidelines.

Set Energy Policy:

1. New procurement policy
2. Revise SOC to promote demand-side management.

an Industrial Grade Diesel

1. Carry out street canyon impact assessment for all new developments from 2007 onwards.
2. Include emissions and carbon trading in considering new commodities market in 2007
3. Pedestrianize extensively and expand pedestrian links.
4. Expanding Shatin-Central line.
5. Develop “clean purchasing practices” for government and private sector.
6. Become part of national and global learning networks to reduce emissions and GHGs.
7. Reset government procurement for energy efficiency in 2007-2008.
8. Experiment with equalizing cross-harbo u r tunnels fees and its impact in 2007-2008.
9. Ban industrial grade diesel in 2007-2008.
10. Discourage dirty fuel in cross-border vehicles in 2007-2008.
11. Commit to expand SIL and NIL in 2007-2008.
12. Introduce emission surcharge in new SOCs starting 2008.
13. Station biodiesel pump at cross-border points to add 20% to tank by 2008.
14. Charge vehicle registration and licence renewal according to emissions levels in 2008-2009 budget.
15. Devise ERP scheme for implementation by 2009-2010.
16. Put forward plan to improve street canyon effect in developed areas by 2009-2010.
17. Enforcing use of Euro III or better vehicles by 2010.
18. Set emission reduction targets beyond 2010.

1. Explore regional ‘green' ports policy for Hong Kong and Shenzhen.
2. Develop regional air management structure.
3. Set up new authority to tackle energy policy and to encourage innovation.
4. Collaborate with cross-border authorities to get export manufacturers to use cleaner fuels in their generators by 2008-2009.
5. Study regional climate change impact with Guangdong and propose adaptation strategies – publish report by 2009-2010.

Facilitate Industries to Reduce Emissions

1. Call meeting in 2007 for shipping, ports and logistics operators to discuss setting emissions reduction targets to come into effect within 2008.
2. Work with aviation and airport sector to reduce emissions by 2009-2010.
3. Developing new ‘green' port policy for consultation by 2010.
4. Capping emissions of bus companies by 2010.