Hong Kong Air Pollution Hits New Record High - Reuters

[hatrack]

HONG KONG - "Air pollution in Hong Kong has hit record levels, the government said yesterday, and it warned people with heart or respiratory problems to stay indoors. The new record highlights the vulnerability of the city to pollution drifting from the rapidly industrializing Chinese mainland and the futility of attempts in recent years to clean up the city's air.

Government figures showed the air pollution index hit a record of 201 this week, putting it into the most severe classification. The index eased yesterday to 140 in the Central business district and 123 in Mongkok, one of Hong Kong's most crowded market and shopping districts, but those levels were still classed as "very high."

EDIT

At midday yesterday, smog enveloped the city's famed Victoria Harbour, making it difficult to see skyscrapers on either side of the waterway. The Environmental Protection Department blamed the high pollution on a lack of wind to clear the smog.

Environmental groups have long lobbied governments on both sides of the border to tackle the problem."

EDIT

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/27158/story.htm

[snowFLAKE]

1. Good to see They're Keeping their Sense of Humor

"The Environmental Protection Department blamed the high pollution on a lack of wind to clear the smog."

But seriously, I know what they mean. I once shot a nail through my hand with a nailgun. I blamed the resulting unpleasant sensations on the fact that there were pain receptors in my hand - as far as I could figure, the fact that I shot a nail through my hand had nothing to do with it.

[hatrack]

2. ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!

Next time I use a nail gun to penetrate my hand, I'll keep that in mind! ;-)

[GAspnes]

3. that's one way to get rid of the capitalists

of course, they're using water pollution to get rid of the peasants, too.

Isn't Chinese pollution appearing in the U.S. too? I thought I saw a story on that. And that would be where the smog goes when the wind *does* work.

[NNadir]

4. Every molecule of CO2 is pollution, and yes it's appearing in the US.

It's worth noting that the American contribution to global air pollution dwarfs that of the rest of the world. We hardly have the moral right to criticize.

The reliance on coal in China to meet the energy demands of rising living standards is a problem nonetheless for everyone on the planet. Fortunately the Chinese have a rather well developed and extremely forward looking nuclear energy program. They will soon pass the West in technical capability in this area.