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Letter to the Editor of SCMP dated 27 September 2006 - Response to an article entitled "A simple matter of health"
More Facts, Less Scepticism
In "A simple matter of health" (September 21), Christine Loh Kung-wai asked readers to forgive her scepticism. The same indulgence should not be granted to her profound superficiality in discussing the purpose of the World Health Organisation's global air quality guidelines.
Ms Loh would have your readers believe that the new WHO guidelines were published last year. The truth is that these are only draft guidelines, yet to be officially released. The Hong Kong government has nevertheless made a head start by kicking off a stakeholder engagement process for the review of our air quality objectives. The Advisory Council on the Environment held a public forum earlier this month on how the AQOs should be reviewed and on long-term air quality management strategies.
Ms Loh also did not find it convenient to quote in entirety WHO's statement that "actual air quality standards set in each country will vary according to country-specific approaches in balancing the risks to health, technological feasibility, economic considerations and other political and social factors". In fact, the WHO has clearly advised against transposing the guidelines directly. This explains why they have been used as a reference, rather than an absolute standard, by countries all over the world.
Ms Loh also did not consider it necessary to inform readers that achieving the new WHO standards will require very aggressive measures - including the extensive use of clean transportation systems, clean coal technologies and efficient energy-saving technologies. It will also require new urban design to permit the use of these technologies, some of which are still being developed. Adopting these measures will have a far-reaching impact on energy, transportation, industrial production, urban planning, conservation and people's way of life. Revising our AQOs and implementing plans for their achievement will be only be possible through thorough public engagement supported by detailed information on the options and financial implications. That is the reason why we plan to launch an 18-month consultancy study.
Roy Tang
Deputy Director
for Director of Environmental Protection
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