TNAG-1980-FCO40-2813-Pollution-in-Hong-Kong-1989 — Page 48

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36

year on

effects.

from the

combating air pollution or paying to rectify its

This expenditure arises in many different ways,

obvious, such as maintaining EPD's air control

staff and equipment, to the less obvious, su ch as the cost

to the public of maintaining more hospital beds and medical

staff, the cost of cleaning buildings and clothes more

frequently and the cost of replacing or repairing equipment

or parts of buildings or other structures that have been

severely corroded as a result of the acidic properties of

Considerable expenditure is also incurred

by industrialists and the government in minimising air

pollution, sometimes because of the inappropriate siting of

industrial or residential buildings.

so me pollutants.

4.4

Hong Kong faces particular difficulties

dealing with these problems.

terrain,

in

For example, ou r hilly

with residential development often on high ground,

limits the scope for dispersing air emissions by using tall

Also high-rise development leads to trapping of

chimney s.

air pollutants in street canyons.

POLICY OBJECTIVES

4.5

The Government's

air pollution are

to li mi t the

overall policy objectives for

contamination of the air in

Hong Kong SO as to safeguard the health and

well-being of the community. In particular,

in

relation

to

pollutants, to

certain

common

air

ensure that the mi ni mum

standards, as laid down in Table 1 are met.

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CONFIDENTIAL