Higher fares, road pricing supported
More than three-quarters of people in Hong Kong are prepared to pay higher transport fees for cleaner air, and over 40 per cent support the controversial electronic road pricing, according to the results of the city's biggest ever consultation exercise.
The study, commissioned by the semi-official Council for Sustainable Development, also found that 95 per cent of people want the government to respond to high air pollution days, including taking mandatory measures such as suspending outdoor activities. Most also prefer a colour-coded alert system.
The study, also the city's first consultation on clean air, was conducted by the University of Hong Kong this summer. The findings were based on more than 81,000 completed questionnaires. It will be released today at the Air Summit, where Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, top business and social leaders will discuss ways to clean the air.
A council source said the survey results would put the government under pressure to introduce road pricing and other tougher policies.
'Officials have stressed before that we need a consensus among the public and the Central-Wan Chai bypass before having road pricing. Now the bypass could be built soon and the voice from the crowd is very clear,' the source said. 'Clearly people want the government to do more against air pollution.'
The authorities have studied the feasibility of road pricing in Hong Kong since 1980s. But the Transport Department put off pursuing it in 2001 on environmental and transport grounds following the completion of a four-year study.
