Clean air targets
政府須擇善固執 空氣質素才有望改善
文章日期:2012年3月16日

雙語社評齊齊聽

英語 (足本收聽)

普通話 (足本收聽)

【明報專訊】THE GOVERNMENT has announced it will adopt a new set of Air Quality Objectives (AQOs). While the new AQOs are stricter than those that are now in force, they are in line only with the World Health Organisation's (WHO's) interim Targets and Air Quality Guidelines, which are less strict. It is open to question whether the new standards are too low.

英語

政府宣布更新空氣質素指標,較現行實施了25年的指標,新指標算是較嚴格,不過,仍然只是處於世衛建議的較寬鬆水平,指標是否訂得太低,值得斟酌。

普通話

The AQOs now in force were introduced in 1987. In the past twenty-five years, neither the British Hong Kong government nor the SAR government would tighten Hong Kong's clean air standards. In 2009, after it had carried out a review and consulted the public, the SAR government formulated nineteen policy measures designed to improve air quality in the territory. Nevertheless, it decided against adopting more stringent AQOs. In 2010, Donald Tsang pledged to have the AQOs revised in 2011. He subsequently said that would be done before his term expired. His pledge was made good yesterday.

英語

現行空氣質素指標於1987年實施,25年來,港英政府和特區政府都不肯收緊標準,到2009年做了檢討諮詢後,雖然就改善空氣質素制定了19項政策措施,但是政府仍然不訂出較高質素指標,到2010年,特首曾蔭權曾承諾在2011年內更新指標,後來又改口為「任內」,到昨日才兌現。

普通話

The new AQOs include a measure of fine suspended particulates (PM2.5). The government seems utterly determined to declare war on air pollution. However, most of the new AQOs are only in line with WHO's interim targets (loose). Many green activists have criticised the government, saying Hong Kong lags behind many other places.

英語

政府更新空氣質素指標,連污染物微細懸浮粒子(PM2.5),也納入為指標之一,好像下大決心要向空氣污染宣戰了,但是總的而言,幾種主要污染物新標準,仍然僅及世衛的中期目標(即較寬鬆),環保人士批評較許多地區落後。

普通話

It is necessary to amend the clean air legislation now in force. According to the government's timetable, the amendment will be made in 2014 and the new AQOs will take effect the same year. However, there will be a transitional period of thirty-six months. In other words, not until 2017 will Hong Kong comply with WHO's loose standards.

英語

特區政府所提時間表,新標準要修訂條例,預計可於2014年完成並實施,不過會有36個月寬限期,即是到2017年,本港才會落實世衛的寬鬆標準。

普通話

Environmental protection requirements are becoming more and more stringent. When the new AQOs come into operation in 2017, WHO may have set higher targets, and Hong Kong may lag farther behind by international standard. Hong Kong, supposed to be Asia's world city, ought to aspire to lead others in improving air quality. However, it does not even emulate those that are ahead of it, and it has humbly taken the last place. That shows our officials have not the knowledge, experience or vision that becomes Hong Kong's status as a world city.

英語

到本港2017年實施新標準之時,隨着環保要求日益嚴格,屆時世衛標準可能已經提高,到時本港更滯後於國際標準。香港是國際大都會,在空氣質素方面,本應有走在時代前頭的志氣,現在連「見賢思齊」都做不到,在國際標準敬陪末座,確切反映政府官員的識見和視野,與國際大都會應有素養和要求,有一定落差。

普通話

The government's reluctance to adopt ambitious AQOs is perhaps attributable to its "pragmatism". It is not hard to lay down high AQOs, but they will do no good if they are unachievable. Nevertheless, "pragmatic" low standards may not do much good either. These years air quality in Hong Kong has worsened rather than improved. That clearly shows it may not produce results to adopt low standards.

英語

政府在空氣質素指標,缺乏進取精神,或許可以務實來解釋,因為訂定高指標不難,辦不到就無用,不過,即使「務實」地以低指標施政,也不一定收到效果。這幾年,空氣質素未見好轉,反而有惡化之勢,最能說明不一定「低開高收」。

普通話

Three years ago the government introduced nineteen measures designed to improve air quality. It then projected that, if it implemented all of them and they all proved effective, electricity charges and bus fares would go up 20% and 15% respectively. Environmental protection costs money. Citizens are aware of that. If the higher charges and higher fares are reasonable, they will not grudge having to pay them. We hope the government will no longer be fearful. We hope it will vigorously implement the policy measures designed to improve air quality in the SAR.

英語

3年前,政府推出19項空氣質素改善措施之時,曾經估算全部落實而收效,預期電費會加20%,巴士票價加15%。環保需要社會整體付出代價,市民知之,只要合理,相信都不吝付出,我們期望政府勿再畏畏葸葸,要積極推動政策措施,改善空氣質素。

普通話

明報社評 2012.01.18

Presented by lecturers of Hong Kong Community College, PolyU and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Ms. Frieda Kwok

Lecturer, Hong Kong Community College, PolyU

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/index.php?lang=eng&cms=86

李予湘

香港專上學院講師

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/index.php?cms=1487&lang=big5

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