The Scribe
10-09-2007, 01:19 AM
Hong Kong's air pollution reached dangerous levels on Monday, reigniting concerns about public health and fears that the city could lose out on crucial foreign investment due to the thick smog.
Across the southern Chinese territory, the Air Pollution Index on Monday passed the critical 100 mark, the point at which the Environmental Protection Department warns anyone with respiratory or heart problems to stay home.
At the weekend, the index reached 144. The high on Monday was 113.
The poor air quality -- which left the city's Victoria Harbour shrouded in haze -- was recorded even though many factories in the neighbouring Pearl River Delta in mainland China have been closed for a week-long holiday.
More than a dozen Hong Kong pensioners were hospitalised on Saturday alone for breathing ailments, prompting local aid charities to cry foul.
"Even I could see the air quality was particularly bad," said Esther Yuen, a spokeswoman at Senior Citizen Home Safety Association.
Choking on smog. (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=071008071028.hkowyyrp&show_article=1)
Looks like they are going to kill themselves with smog.
Across the southern Chinese territory, the Air Pollution Index on Monday passed the critical 100 mark, the point at which the Environmental Protection Department warns anyone with respiratory or heart problems to stay home.
At the weekend, the index reached 144. The high on Monday was 113.
The poor air quality -- which left the city's Victoria Harbour shrouded in haze -- was recorded even though many factories in the neighbouring Pearl River Delta in mainland China have been closed for a week-long holiday.
More than a dozen Hong Kong pensioners were hospitalised on Saturday alone for breathing ailments, prompting local aid charities to cry foul.
"Even I could see the air quality was particularly bad," said Esther Yuen, a spokeswoman at Senior Citizen Home Safety Association.
Choking on smog. (http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=071008071028.hkowyyrp&show_article=1)
Looks like they are going to kill themselves with smog.