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THE ENVIRONMENT

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LIKE most comparable urban areas elsewhere in the world, Hong Kong is confronted with pollution problems, arising mainly from commercial and industrial activities and to a lesser extent from livestock farming. Many of our pollution problems are typical of those found in a fast-growing and developed country, but others are more specific to the local environment.

To enable the reader to better understand the Hong Kong environment and its specific pollution problems, this chapter is structured to give a description of the main components of the natural environment, the basic framework for protecting it, and the progress that has been made in tackling the problems.

(Various aspects of Hong Kong's environmental problems are illustrated in the end- paper map at the end of this book.)

Climate

Hong Kong's climate is sub-tropical, tending towards temperate for nearly half the year. During November and December there are pleasant breezes, plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures. Many people regard these as the best months of the year. January and February are rather more cloudy, with occasional cold fronts followed by dry northerly winds. It is not uncommon for temperatures to drop below 10°C in urban areas. The lowest temperature recorded at the Royal Observatory is 0°C, although sub-zero temperatures and frost occur at times on high ground and in the New Territories.

March and April can also be very pleasant except for occasional spells of high humidity. Fog and drizzle can be particularly troublesome on high ground exposed to the south east, and in these conditions air traffic and ferry services are occasionally disrupted by reduced visibility.

May to August are hot and humid with frequent showers and thunderstorms, par- ticularly during the mornings. Afternoon temperatures often exceed 32°C whereas at night, temperatures generally remain around 26°C with high humidity. There is usually a fine dry spell in July which may last for one to two weeks, or even longer in some years.

September is the month during which Hong Kong is most likely to be affected by tropical cyclones, although gales are not unusual at any time between May and November. On average, about 30 tropical cyclones form in the western North Pacific or China Seas every year, and about half of them reach typhoon strength (maximum winds of 118 kilometres per hour or more).

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