4. Star Ferry and Hong Kong Haze
We took the Star Ferry from Central to Tsim Sha Tsui last week. I was troubled by how run down the Start Ferry Terminal has become. (Later, I learned that the Star ferry will be closed in November 2006). Years ago, both sides of the ferry piers were the heart of the city, always crowded with people eager to get across as fast as possible. Now, it's not even one-tenth it's former self. Only a few us tourists with cameras now ride the ferry. Everyone now takes the subway to cross the harbor or drive through the 3 tunnels. Here is a photo from last week:
While the ferry looks pretty much the same, not so about the air quality in Hong Kong. I used to remember that the air was crisp, the sky was blue and the sea was green. Now all we have is that the sea is dirty green and there is a haze covering everything, it is almost as bad as the smog in LA. When I look up at the sky during the ferry ride, there is no sun, there is no sky, just a grey haze. Very sad.
We crossed the harbor again today and this time we went from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wanchai. The ride is still very pleasant with a gentle breeze slowly rocking the boat. But the haze is back today, and it's getting worse.
The very tall building is one of the newest office towers in Hong Kong, it's the International Finance Center 2 (IFC2, IFC1 is a smaller skyscraper just next to it). This photo was taken this afternoon at 1:11pm... I am really disappointed that the haze has ruined an otherwise most beautiful harbor. Our friends told us that most of the air pollution are blown over from ShengZhen and GuangZhou and there is precious little the Hong Kong government has done or can do. In his Letters to Hong Kong report yesterday, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang has not proposed any long term solution other than some minor remedies - a 3.2 billion HKD package to retro-fit old commercial diesel vehicles with liquid natural gas on a voluntary basis. Yes, that's a 3.2 billion with a 'b'! Makes you wonder what does the news item mean.
While the ferry looks pretty much the same, not so about the air quality in Hong Kong. I used to remember that the air was crisp, the sky was blue and the sea was green. Now all we have is that the sea is dirty green and there is a haze covering everything, it is almost as bad as the smog in LA. When I look up at the sky during the ferry ride, there is no sun, there is no sky, just a grey haze. Very sad.
We crossed the harbor again today and this time we went from Tsim Sha Tsui to Wanchai. The ride is still very pleasant with a gentle breeze slowly rocking the boat. But the haze is back today, and it's getting worse.
The very tall building is one of the newest office towers in Hong Kong, it's the International Finance Center 2 (IFC2, IFC1 is a smaller skyscraper just next to it). This photo was taken this afternoon at 1:11pm... I am really disappointed that the haze has ruined an otherwise most beautiful harbor. Our friends told us that most of the air pollution are blown over from ShengZhen and GuangZhou and there is precious little the Hong Kong government has done or can do. In his Letters to Hong Kong report yesterday, Hong Kong's Chief Executive Donald Tsang has not proposed any long term solution other than some minor remedies - a 3.2 billion HKD package to retro-fit old commercial diesel vehicles with liquid natural gas on a voluntary basis. Yes, that's a 3.2 billion with a 'b'! Makes you wonder what does the news item mean.
Labels: air pollution, Hong Kong, star ferry, tsim sha tsui
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