Sellout Conference Reflects Community Concern about Air Pollution
The Air We Breath – 20th Jan 2009
A sellout crowd of over 400 people attended Saturday’s conference highlighted the deep concern, and interesting finding solutions to Hong Kong’s air pollution.
The heavily oversubscribed event:
• delivered an up–to-date expert information on Hong Kong’s situation,
• introduced th Hedley Environmental Index http://hedleyindex.sph.hku.hk
• introduced best practices in tackling pollution from overseas.
Most importantly, it provided an opportunity for delegates to discuss the issues with local and global experts and to propose solutions for Hong Kong to a panel of stakeholders that included Secretary for the Environment, Edward Yau and Legislators Audrey Eu (Chair of LegCo’s Environmental Affairs Panel), Tanya Chan, and Kam Nai Wai.
“Hong Kong has internationally-recognised experts on air pollution and public health. We are also able to tap overseas best practices to solve problems,” said Christine Loh, CEO Civic Exchange. “This tremendous gathering of knowledge – coupled with the community’s desire to participate – should send a very positive message to the Government that policies which improve public health by reducing air pollution will be strongly supported by the public and by experts”, she added.
“We are delighted to have such an enthusiastic response to this conference,” said William Yiu, Executive Director, Charities, Hong Kong Jockey Club. “The aim today is to transform our concerns about the health impacts of air pollution into positive energy to develop the solutions that will give us all cleaner, healthier air.” Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust generous funded the conference
Looking beyond the conference we hope that delegates will make use of what they have learned to participate in the government’s ongoing review of Hong Kong’s air quality objectives. These are the standards set by the Environmental Protection Department to control air pollution. Anyone wishing to comment can email the review team on aqoreviewcomment@arup.com