Hong Kong pollution is China’s ‘new disease’

A new study has found that air pollution is responsible for around 10,000 premature deaths every year in Hong Kong and southern China.

The report, published today, reveals that respiratory health problems caused by smog costs China 6.7 billion yuan every year, almost £500 million.

Hong Kong-based think tank Civic Exchange conducted the research by looking at air pollution data between 2003 and 2006.

As well as considering the health costs - which total 440,000 hospital bed days and 11 million doctor visits per year - the report considered losses caused by missed working days.

The report blames air pollution for creating a new disease burden on China’s health care system, and says that the increasing levels of pollution are due vehicle emissions and the emergence of China as the world’s factory for almost all popular consumer goods.

Recommendations include air quality standards legislation, an air quality management framework, and the provision of real time air quality data to the general public.

Furthermore, the report said that Hong Kong must take immediate action to reduce emissions from road vehicles and ships.

Chief executive of the territory of Hong Kong, Donald Tsang, has promised results within the next four years.