'Govt Prioritising Development Over Clean Air'

The environmental group, Clean Air Network, on Thursday accused the government of sacrificing public health for the sake of economic development.

The group said the rate of improvement in air quality has stagnated in recent years and officials are setting easily achievable air quality targets so construction projects aren't held up by environmental concerns.

"Some of the targets we can meet today. So this is ridiculous," Patrick Fung, the group’s chief executive, told RTHK’s Richard Pyne.

"We have to see air quality objectives as a tool to push for more policy change. It is actually a target that leads Hong Kong's air quality."

Fung added that Hongkongers should not be asked to choose between economic development and public health improvement.

He said the dense smog Hong Kong had to endure last week, when the government presented its analysis of air quality, is not something the public should have to get used to.

Last week, the Environmental Protection Department said it is making good progress in improving local air quality, with concentrations of major pollutants dropping by more than 50 percent over the past five years.

But officials said they are still concerned about roadside Nitrogen dioxide emissions and rising levels of ozone, which exceed the city's air quality objectives.