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HONG KONG - HONG Kong residents would be willing to pay higher transportation costs if it means breathing cleaner air, according to a survey published yesterday as the city's dazzling skyline was once again shrouded by a thick haze.
The survey was released to coincide with a summit called by the government to discuss the deteriorating air quality in the bustling financial hub and how to tackle it.
Hong Kong's skies are often heavily polluted by its two coal-burning power plants, marine and road traffic, and factories over the border in mainland China, fuelling concerns that tourists and investors may shift their attention to cleaner cities like Singapore.
Pollution monitoring stations in Hong Kong registered a 'high' pollution reading yesterday, meaning that regular exposure over months or years could cause long-term health effects.
A week earlier, downtown Hong Kong and some other areas recorded 'very high' levels, prompting the government to advise people with heart and respiratory illnesses to stay at home.
Dr Anthony Hedley, professor of community medicine at the University of Hong Kong, said cleaning up the city's air was a 'medical emergency'.
More than 75 per cent of 82,000 people surveyed said they would happily pay higher transportation costs if it meant that the thousands of buses, taxis and mini-buses used cleaner fuel.
It also revealed that 42 per cent backed electronic road pricing, which would charge vehicle usage on roads during peak periods - a contentious measure opposed strongly by the motor trade.
The money could be used to subsidise greener vehicles and public transportation, said the survey, which was commissioned by the government's Council for Sustainable Development and carried out by the University of Hong Kong in the past five months.
A consensus was also found for greater public transportation usage on bad air days and certain mandatory measures such as the use of environmentally friendly light bulbs and turning off air-conditioners in empty rooms.
Released during Hong Kong's traditionally smoggy winter months, the report is the most ambitious so far to gauge public attitudes about pollution.
Speaking at the summit, Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang vowed to consider the council's findings when formulating a long-term plan for cleaning up the air.
'We firmly believe if Hong Kong's economy is to maintain a sustainable growth, it is necessary to improve our air quality, provide a quality living environment to attract investors and talent to stay in Hong Kong,' Mr Tsang said.
But Professor Hedley said the government needed to act fast as residents were already paying a heavy price for poor quality air, citing an earlier study which found that pollution contributes to 1,600 deaths in the city each year.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS
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