Hong Kong's Big Air Pollution Problem

While Hong Kong may have one of the world's most admired transportation networks, findings from a new study show that Hong Kong's air quality is far below that of other world cities. The authors of the study published by a partnership of major universities and a prominent local think-tank estimate that the severity of the city's air pollution costs residents and businesses billions of dollars a year in lost productivity and health-related costs.

"'If it was an infectious disease, there would be a crisis,' professor Anthony Hedley from Hong Kong University's School of Public Health said. "This is a medical emergency.""

Government officials acknowledge the region's worsening air quality situation, and have stated that environmental protection is now a priority for the S.A.R.'s leadership.

A major factor affecting the region's air quality is border city of Shenzhen, a major manufacturing center in Mainland China that has loose environmental controls. However, the study's authors cite a number of ways the Hong Kong government can improve the situation for residents, including introducing cleaner fuels for transport.