Civic Exchange Annual Report 2005-2006: The Air We Breathe

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CIVIC E XCHANGE ANNUAL REPORT 2005-2006needs to approach the challengein a comprehensivemanner. However, our greatestconcern are the obviousemerging feelings of apathyand disability as people fearHong Kong has no controlover its own air quality.Ironically, civil society hasnever been more engagedin the debate. Air pollutionhas become a topic of everydayconversation, and isHaze obscures the sunsetincreasingly discussed inpublic forums. In July 2006,we presented a 10,000 signature petition initiated by AsiaXPAT to theChief Executive, urging him to expedite the development of a cleanair program, including updating Hong Kong’s Air Quality Objectivesand devising a comprehensive Energy Policy (www.civic-exchange.org/publications/2006/Ltr2CEoncleanair.pdf).Refocusing Policy DebateWe resolved to refocus the air policy debate by clearly articulatingthe full story to the public, arming them with the facts to enablethem to demand more of their government and of themselves. In thisregard, we wanted people to know that Hong Kong’s local transportemissions significantly contribute to our local pollution and thatEnergy production in Hong Kong and Guangzhou hasa significant impact on air quality in the region12
CIVIC E XCHANGE ANNUAL REPORT 2005-2006much more could be done to improve roadside air quality. Effectivesolutions require better urban planning to relieve heavily congestedstreets; new engines to replace old highly polluting ones in commercialvehicles; and the expansion of our rail transport network toget people out of cars and buses and on to trains.A clear summer day in ShatinAn Air Management Road MapIn an effort to add depth to the public policy debate, Civic Exchangepublished an Air Quality Pamphlet (www.civic-exchange.org/publications/2006/airq.pdf) to accompany our Air Management Plan (www.civic-exchange.org/publications/2006/airmanplan-e.pdf). These publicationsboth highlight the big-picture issues and provide much-neededdetail on how to achieve the desired change. We would like to thankMirror Productions, both for their design efforts on these reports andtheir continuing quality work.The Importance of EnergyOur increasing appreciation of the impact of energy production onair quality also led us to initiate a series of discussion forums withprofessionals, business members, academics and government officialsfocusing on energy-related issues. The first forum was held in13
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Page 34 and 35: INCOME STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED
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Civic Exchange Annual Report 2005-2006: The Air We Breathe

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