Clear the Air (Hong Kong)
Encyclopedia
Clear The Air is a voluntary organisation aiming at reducing air pollution
in Hong Kong
. It was founded on 10 December 1997 as a Society
under the Societies Ordinance (Cap 151). It is self-sustained and is supported by individual membership fees and member donations.
爭氣 means "fighting for air" and "living up to others' expectations". 行動 means "Action".
So the Chinese name of Clear The Air means that people must "Act now - fight for better air" and also "Act now to meet others' expectations".
on the worsening air quality in Hong Kong Its mission is "to introduce and implement measures to significantly reduce air pollution in Hong Kong".
Hong Kong Telecom (acquired by PCCW Limited in 2000) donated HK$ 50,000 as the initial funding to "Clear the Air". Barbara Parr then arranged for pro bono council.Ruby Cautherly's graphic design company designed the corporate logo, pro bono, and donated all graphic materials. Anne Forrest loaned her centrally located Conference Room for the meetings. Michel Porro did all of the photography pro bono and George Cautherly was a part-time administrator. Moreover, Michael Moszynski of M&C Saatchi, now LONDON Advertising, was one of the earliest members and he did the advertising work on a pro bono basis.
Ten years later in 2007 the Executive Committee comprised
The five main areas about which the organisation is most concerned are "Pollutants from China", "Vehicles and Vessels", "Traffic and Roads", "Power Plants" and "Tobacco Smoke".
Central District and Victoria Harbour on a polluted morning and a clear morning as shown on the right hand side, taken from a rooftop on Seymour Rd (near Robinson Rd).
and how it affects the air quality in Hong Kong. The air pollution from Shenzhen
and the province of Guangdong
mostly affects Hong Kong in winter time when the prevailing winds are from the North.
The organisation has claimed the "Blue Sky" project launched by the Guangdong Government in 2000, which is a project to curb the air pollution problem, as a mystery. In the project 100 cases of industrial pollution were to be dealt with, but the organisation questions which companies are involved and how many of them are Hong Kong companies aka Cartels.
s are one of the main sources of roadside pollutants, they support the use of hybrid buses, and urges Government to turn all public light buses into Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicles.
Other areas concerned are smoky vehicles and vessels (e.g.ships, boats and ferries, where reporting of idling engines is also encouraged by the organisation.
The organisation recommends anyone to report any vessel that emits black smoke continuously to the Marine Department .
It also recommends citizens to travel by mass transit systems like the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which save energy and creates much less air pollution.
(ERP) is the only solution to the congestion problem.
According to the data recorded by The Environmental Protection Department in 2004, the three power plants account for the emission of the major pollutants in Hong Kong. The emission and accumulation of respirable suspended particulates are the major pollution threats in Hong Kong. High concentration of pollutants leads to the formation of smog
and haze
and triggers health hazards, especially respiratory illnesses like asthma
.
Their chairman has once described "Hongkong Electric as a heavy polluter" and demanded the company to achieve the 2010 emission reduction targets where otherwise action should be taken against it.
The organization advocates the use of renewable energy which is clean and pollution-free, for example, wind power
and solar power whilst lowering existing electricity usage.
As a result of the 2007 UNEP Governing Council Meeting 140 governments have agreed that work should start as soon as possible to aim for a global binding agreement on mercury. The reduction of toxic mercury should be achieved through several means that are stated in a proposal made by several environmental NGOS that attended the 2007 UNEP meeting.
, respirable suspended particles and carbon monoxide
.
Clear the Air has stated that they will help to check smoking by several means.
Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of China must abide by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control treaty to which China is a ratified signatory.
On World No Tobacco Day 2011 Clear the Air was presented with a plaque by the Minster of Health York CHOW for its work in tobacco control in Hong Kong.
List of presentations by Clear the Air:
List of events organised by Clear the Air:
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It was founded on 10 December 1997 as a Society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
under the Societies Ordinance (Cap 151). It is self-sustained and is supported by individual membership fees and member donations.
爭氣 means "fighting for air" and "living up to others' expectations". 行動 means "Action".
So the Chinese name of Clear The Air means that people must "Act now - fight for better air" and also "Act now to meet others' expectations".
Mission
Clear The Air is a voluntary organisation and a registered Charity. It hopes to raise the awareness of the Government and the Legislative CouncilLegislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
on the worsening air quality in Hong Kong Its mission is "to introduce and implement measures to significantly reduce air pollution in Hong Kong".
Objectives
- To form an association among members of the public having a common goal in protecting air quality from excessive pollutionPollutionPollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
in Hong Kong; - To take all lawful actions in educating the public on the need to protect air quality and the public health; and
- To take all lawful actions in persuading the Government of Hong KongGovernment of Hong KongThe Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
to take actions to protect air quality.
History
In June 1997, at a dinner party, Barbara Parr, Ruby Cautherly, Anne Forrest and Janet Golden agreed to set up this organisation. They also agreed that each of them has to find a friend to set up and join this organisation. They have found six people altogether, they are George Cautherly, Christine Loh and Michel Porro, Michael Moszynski, Pip Landers and Lisa Hopkinson. At last, these ten people joined hands to form Clear the Air.Hong Kong Telecom (acquired by PCCW Limited in 2000) donated HK$ 50,000 as the initial funding to "Clear the Air". Barbara Parr then arranged for pro bono council.Ruby Cautherly's graphic design company designed the corporate logo, pro bono, and donated all graphic materials. Anne Forrest loaned her centrally located Conference Room for the meetings. Michel Porro did all of the photography pro bono and George Cautherly was a part-time administrator. Moreover, Michael Moszynski of M&C Saatchi, now LONDON Advertising, was one of the earliest members and he did the advertising work on a pro bono basis.
Ten years later in 2007 the Executive Committee comprised
- Chairman Christian Masset
- Vice Chairman : Phil Heung
- Secretary : Amy Ng
- Communications : Phil Smyth
- Membership : Ann Davy Hou
- Tobacco / Legal : James Middleton
- Energy : Mark Hunter
- Idling Engines : Amy Ng
- Marine & Aviation : Guy Shirra
- Town Planning : Dr AuYeung Chi Shing
- Indoor : George Woo
Areas concerned
Hong Kong's poor air quality is the main topic of conversation in town. Many people want to understand the details so they can assess to matters and take actions, such as deciding whether to stay in or leave Hong Kong.The five main areas about which the organisation is most concerned are "Pollutants from China", "Vehicles and Vessels", "Traffic and Roads", "Power Plants" and "Tobacco Smoke".
Central District and Victoria Harbour on a polluted morning and a clear morning as shown on the right hand side, taken from a rooftop on Seymour Rd (near Robinson Rd).
Pollutants from China
Clear the Air is concerned at the condition of air quality in the Pearl River DeltaPearl River Delta
The Pearl River Delta , Zhujiang Delta or Zhusanjiao in Guangdong province, People's Republic of China is the low-lying area surrounding the Pearl River estuary where the Pearl River flows into the South China Sea...
and how it affects the air quality in Hong Kong. The air pollution from Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
and the province of Guangdong
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
mostly affects Hong Kong in winter time when the prevailing winds are from the North.
The organisation has claimed the "Blue Sky" project launched by the Guangdong Government in 2000, which is a project to curb the air pollution problem, as a mystery. In the project 100 cases of industrial pollution were to be dealt with, but the organisation questions which companies are involved and how many of them are Hong Kong companies aka Cartels.
Vehicles and vessels
Clear the Air has stated that diesel engineDiesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s are one of the main sources of roadside pollutants, they support the use of hybrid buses, and urges Government to turn all public light buses into Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicles.
Other areas concerned are smoky vehicles and vessels (e.g.ships, boats and ferries, where reporting of idling engines is also encouraged by the organisation.
The organisation recommends anyone to report any vessel that emits black smoke continuously to the Marine Department .
It also recommends citizens to travel by mass transit systems like the Mass Transit Railway (MTR), which save energy and creates much less air pollution.
Traffic and roads
The organization is in the position against building new roads and they believe that this would not neither reduce the traffic nor the number of cars. They are in favour of imposing a congestion charge. In 2005, when the Transport Department has stated that the traffic congestion on Northern Hong Kong Island should be solved by building a new bypass, Clear the Air maintained that a new bypass would not be the solution, where an Electronic Road PricingElectronic Road Pricing (Hong Kong)
The Hong Kong Electronic Road Pricing is an electronic toll collection scheme first proposed in Hong Kong as early as in the 1980s to manage traffic by congestion pricing...
(ERP) is the only solution to the congestion problem.
Power plants
The organisation is concerned about the pollution generated by the two electric companies Hong Kong Electric Holdings Ltd. and CLP Holdings Ltd. and claims that a tighter emission level should be applied. The three power plants in Hong Kong burn coal. Exxon Mobil is the major shareholder in the CLP venture and mega tycoon Li Ka Shing owns HK Electric. The companies sell a percentage of their output power over the border to Guangdong.According to the data recorded by The Environmental Protection Department in 2004, the three power plants account for the emission of the major pollutants in Hong Kong. The emission and accumulation of respirable suspended particulates are the major pollution threats in Hong Kong. High concentration of pollutants leads to the formation of smog
Smog
Smog is a type of air pollution; the word "smog" is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine...
and haze
Haze
Haze is traditionally an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of the sky. The World Meteorological Organization manual of codes includes a classification of horizontal obscuration into categories of fog, ice fog, steam fog, mist, haze, smoke, volcanic...
and triggers health hazards, especially respiratory illnesses like asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
.
Their chairman has once described "Hongkong Electric as a heavy polluter" and demanded the company to achieve the 2010 emission reduction targets where otherwise action should be taken against it.
The organization advocates the use of renewable energy which is clean and pollution-free, for example, wind power
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
and solar power whilst lowering existing electricity usage.
As a result of the 2007 UNEP Governing Council Meeting 140 governments have agreed that work should start as soon as possible to aim for a global binding agreement on mercury. The reduction of toxic mercury should be achieved through several means that are stated in a proposal made by several environmental NGOS that attended the 2007 UNEP meeting.
Tobacco smoke
The organisation is firmly against smoking as tobacco smoke contributes to vast amount of pollutant like nicotineNicotine
Nicotine is an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants that constitutes approximately 0.6–3.0% of the dry weight of tobacco, with biosynthesis taking place in the roots and accumulation occurring in the leaves...
, respirable suspended particles and carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
.
Clear the Air has stated that they will help to check smoking by several means.
- To help enforce the smoking ban, by giving their members instructions for reporting to the Labour Department about cases where the ban is not enforced.
- To get more bars and restaurants become smoke free without Qualified Establishment Exemptions. Sadly the Hong Kong Administration, after taking years to bring in the anti smoking legislation, immediately granted smoking deferral exemptions to any licensed restaurant or bar that applied for same - the exemptions remain valid until July 1, 2009. The ironic fact is that the Health Department is the authority granting the smoking law exemptions whilst having to treat the results.
- To try stopping smoking advertisements that the organisation believes as hooking people to smoke since young age, by challenging with the Hong Kong Trademark Department on trademarks of tobacco company.
- To try banning smoking in public places, by using the interpretation of the littering law, which states that the action of "blow" "offensive, noxious or obnoxious matter " or "any substance likely to constitute a nuisance" is not allowed.
Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of China must abide by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control treaty to which China is a ratified signatory.
On World No Tobacco Day 2011 Clear the Air was presented with a plaque by the Minster of Health York CHOW for its work in tobacco control in Hong Kong.
Actions and activities
The organisation acts actively to raise the awareness of curbing air pollution in Hong Kong, this includes giving demonstrations and press releases and having interaction with the public directly.Engine Street Patrol discontinued
The offence of allowing an engine to idle has now been gazetted and the HK Government is to be responsible for enforcing this law.Presentations
The organisation expresses their view in issues concerning air quality by presenting them to the Government. Clear the Air also reports to international organisations about the condition of air pollution in Hong Kong.List of presentations by Clear the Air:
- March 2005 International Business Committee meeting with Government
- August 2005 Town Planning Board (about Electronic Road Pricing)
- September 2005 Harbourfront Enhancement Committee Expert Forum (about Electronic Road Pricing)
- September 2005 European Chambers of Commerce (about Pollution in the Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong)
Publicity events
Clear the Air has organised many events in publicizing the importance of good air quality.List of events organised by Clear the Air:
- March 2000 Set up an Information booth during the spring Extravaganzafair.
- June 2000 Organised the KCRC/CLEAR THE AIR Clean Transport Poster Contest, aiming at primary and secondary school students.
- April 2005 Organised the "Earth Day" at Kowloon ParkKowloon ParkKowloon Park is a large public park in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Peninsula, Hong Kong. It is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.-History:...
.
Liquor Licensing Board objections
Clear the Air does not oppose liquor licence renewals. Rather CTA moves to educate the licensees of their legal requirements to keep the workplace safe from dangers to the health of bar premises workers and patrons alike.Measures to curb air pollution by Hong Kong SAR
- Action Blue Sky
- to reduce emissions from vehicles;
- to reduce emissions from industrial sources and power plants.
- Press Release
Environmental protection NGOs in Hong Kong
- Friends of the Earth
- Worldwide Fund for Nature
- The Conservancy Association
- Green Power
- Air & Waste Management Association
- Earthcare
- Business Environment Council
- Green Council
- Green Peace
- Earth Care
- Footprint
- Friends Of The Harbour
- Green Peng Chau Association
- Tai Po Environment Association