Experts Fume At Govt's Air Quality Objectives Plan

A coalition of green groups, health workers and lawmakers are calling on the government to withdraw its proposals to alter the city's air quality objectives.

A survey they commissioned suggests that the vast majority of the public also oppose the government's proposals. Nearly three-quarters of the 574 people surveyed said they were unsatisfied with the government's move.

The government's proposing that the concentration limit for sulphur dioxide be halved from an average of 125 microgrammes per metre cubed of air per day to 50. For PM 2.5, the annual average would be tightened to 25 microgrammes per cubic metre from 35, and the daily average would also be tightened to 50 from 75.

However, the number of times this limit can be breached has been significantly increased, from nine times to 35.

Robert Chung from the Public Opinion Research Institute, which was commissioned to conduct the survey, said half of all respondents said they were "extremely against" the idea of relaxing the number of allowable breaches.

The tightened limits are in line with World Health Organisation interim targets – but still fall short of the body's air quality guidelines.

James Ockenden from Blue Skies China said the government is sending the wrong message by assuming that people want economic growth even at the cost of environment.

Patrick Fung from the Clean Air Network said they are frustrated that the government's ongoing public consultation on its proposal doesn't give people more choices to suggest an alternative to the official plan.

The government's public consultation ends on October 11.