Lawmakers Fume At Govt's New Air Quality Goals

Lawmakers across the political spectrum were left fuming on Monday over the government's proposed new air quality goals, with an opposition member alleging that the authorities are manipulating standards ahead of upcoming infrastructure projects.

"The proposed standards seem to accommodate the future infrastructure works, including the new island [Lantau Tomorrow Vision]. Especially because these air quality objectives are related to the environmental impact assessment ordinance," said the Civic Party's Tanya Chan.

"When they prepare the feasibility studies or they prepare to do such an infrastructure work, they need to do an EIA [Environmental Impact Assessment ], they may need to do some mitigation works and they need to apply for a permit," she said.

"But if they exceed the standard, their permit will be suspended. That means they can’t do any more works until they fulfil the standards," Chan said.

Pro-government lawmakers also raised concerns about the changes. Eunice Yung and Priscilla Leung said the proposed regulations are not providing the clarity that they would like to see.

But the Undersecretary for the Environment Tse Chin-wan defended the proposal. The government is adopting what other places have done, and 35 [times] is also the number permitted in the EU, the official said.

Under the revised targets, the limit for PM2.5 will be tightened from 75 microgrammes per cubic metre of air to 50. But the number of times this 24-hour target can be breached in a year will be raised from nine to 35.

Ahead of the Legco environmental affairs panel meeting, a coalition of environment and health activists staged a protest over the planned changes.