Air Pollution Impels Businesses To Leave Hong Kong, Transfer Staff With Children - AFP

[hatrack]

The head of Hong Kong's stock exchange warned worsening pollution posed a threat to the city's competitiveness as some expatriates stayed away due to the poor air quality, a report said Monday.

"You hear pretty often that young people with young families are reluctant to come to Hong Kong because of the quality of the air," Ronald Arculli said in an interview with the Financial Times. "We need to have quality people servicing the market from all walks of life," he was quoted as saying, adding his two young grandsons had moved to the Philippines on doctors' advice on pollution-related medical grounds.

Arculli may be the most powerful business and political figure to weigh in on Hong Kong's chronic pollution problem. International chambers of commerce have also issued warnings that their member businesses are pulling out of the city or deciding not to locate here because of the health implications for their families and staff.

Pollution has become a key political issue in Hong Kong as smog levels have risen to often dangerous levels. Poor air quality reduced visibility to less than one kilometer (about half a mile) on more than 50 days last year.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/2006/061120034736.1fwu8whb.html

[silverojo]

1. No surprise there

As soon as the Chinese started getting prosperous and being able to afford cars, this was bound to happen. :(