In order to provide the public with a more complete and reliable interpretation of real-time air pollution levels, using the WHO’s Air Quality Guidelines, The University of Hong Kong together with Civic Exchange revised the Hedley Environmental Index and launched a new version based on an updated methodology and a more user-friendly design for easy understanding and sharing. Hedley Environmental Index was first launched in 2008. It monitors and publishes in real-time the economic costs of Hong Kong’s air pollution in terms of public health impacts (premature deaths, hospital bed-days and doctor visits) and their monetary value.   [Hedley Enironmental Index] (more…)

Water is fundamental to all aspects of life. Hong Kong and Guangdong share the water’s sources that feed our economic and social activities. The continuing industrial transformation of Guangdong impacts the entire South China region. This research paper examines the implication of industrial relocation in Guangdong, the environmental risks involved, and how Guangdong and Hong Kong can collaborate to move forward. [Download full report]  [Download press release] (more…)

This paper reviews how the Tsang administration has tackled air pollution since he took office in March 2005, to determine where progress has been made, and where it has not. Some of the difficulties to achieving substantial improvement come from long-entrenched systemic “disconnects” in the way that air pollution is addressed, but new and fundamental problems have also emerged. [Download full report] 

As the Government has announced a number of significant changes in the landscape of air quality management in Hong Kong several days after this report was published, Civic Exchange will release a supplementary report shortly to address the new developments. 

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Civic Exchange, Society for Protection of the Harbour, DesigningHongKong, Planning Alliance, Harbour Business Forum, Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design, and the Faculty of Law of HKU co-organized a forum in 9 Dec 2011 for the four Chief Executive Candidates to share their visions on Urban Development. (more…)

The Managing Director of liner operator Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL)’s Hong Kong branch has reiterated calls for the Hong Kong government to support a shipowners’ initiative to switch to low sulphur fuels while at berth in Hong Kong.

Teddy Fung urged the local government to “offer incentives to broaden industry participation” on the green initiative at the port. He called on the local governments in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region to develop a common standard for the use of low sulphur fuels in PRD. “The governments in the PRD region should develop a uniform standard to regulate the use of low sulphur fuel in order to ensure a level playing field for the industry,” he said. Fung was speaking at an industry conference in Hong Kong on November 12. Earlier this month, the Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association (HKLSA) has called for the Hong Kong government’s support on the initiative through subsidies.

Last month, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Donald Tsang said Hong Kong will explore with the governments of Guangdong, Shenzhen and Macao proposals to require ships to switch to low sulphur diesel while berthing in PRD waters and the possibility of setting up an ECA in the area.

OOCL is among the 15 shipping firms that are participating in the initiative under the Fair Winds Charter agreement, effective January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012. The other participating shipping firms under the charter are Maersk Line, Hamburg Süd, Aliança, APL, Evergreen Line, Hanjin Shipping, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), CMA CGM, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, NYK Line, Hapag-Lloyd, Yang Ming, Cosco Container Lines and China Navigation Co.

They stopped filling in Victoria Harbour when people started to worry there would soon be no harbor left. But dumping more earth into the ocean to ‘reclaim’ land to sustain future development is unlikely to end in the near future. Even now, the government is carrying out a study of possible reclamation sites. Christopher DeWolf reports. [more]

By Mike Kilburn & Cheng Nok-Ming

In May 2011 the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was formally extended to Hong Kong, opening a new page for nature conservation here. Protecting our biodiversity also plays a critical role in retaining Hong Kong’s position as the most liveable city in China. The indicators listed in the current report will provide a broad picture of the state of both biodiversity and conservation in Hong Kong. [Download report]

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Civic Exchange publication series outlines key issues on air quality and the law in HK-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Judicial.

Press launch on 30 August 2011:

[ English press release | Chinese press release ]

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By Jenny Marusiak, Eco Business

Asean nations must connect its economies and energy networks to meet the bloc’s future energy needs, said experts at the fourth Asean and Asia conference yesterday… 

Chief executive of the China-based think-tank Civic Exchange, Christine Loh, noted that energy policy is dominated by a supply-led mind set whereby the default response to energy shortages is building more power plants. This has led to a range of exploitative industries to fix energy problems, and to the neglect of a “demand-led mindset” which requires reducing the amount of energy needed, she said. Full article