Bid to clean up HK's air

A Star Ferry makes its way across Hong Kong's harbor. Pollution almost blocks out the skyline

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- It rates as among the world's most spectacular city skylines but, more often than not, the view of Hong Kong is obscured by a filthy haze.

Tourists are bewildered when they can't make out Kowloon from Victoria Peak, residents complain and pollution warnings are a feature of daily news bulletins.

But the air up there may be given a better bill of health if an eight-year government plan to reduce pollution makes inroads into what is becoming a worsening problem for the former British colony.

The plan, announced Monday, follows the release of a joint three-year study with counterparts from the neighboring mainland province of Guangdong.

Guangdong, which rates as China's fasting growing province, is often blamed for Hong Kong's high levels of pollution.

Critics argue that lax environmental guidelines are allowing its many factories to spew out toxic fumes that blow over and envelope Hong Kong.

However, promising a reduction in smog levels, Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang, said that much of the pollution actually comes from sources within the territory.

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"We cannot delay moves to improve air quality because it affects the daily lives of our citizens, the impression given to tourists and foreign investors, and the image of Hong Kong as a cosmopolitan city," Tsang, Hong Kong's No. 2 official, told reporters.

Tsang said that both governments would drastically cut emissions of pollutants by 2010, including; sulphur dioxide by 40 percent; nitrogen oxides by 20 percent, respirable suspended particulates by 55 percent; and volatile organic compounds by 55 percent.

Details on how these targets would be met were not revealed but Tsang said that Hong Kong would consider switching to cleaner fuel sources.

The environment study said that pollution in the Pearl River Delta, which includes Hong Kong, Macau and parts of Guangdong would worsen unless governments took steps against it.

A thick band of pollution is evident over southern China in this satellite photo from earlier this year

The population in the region is forecast to increase by 20 percent from about 40 million people, with vehicle use and power consumption to also surge.

"The overall air pollutant emissions in the region will continue to increase if the two governments only implement their existing and committed air quality improvement measures," the government said in a statement.

"The two governments ... have to enhance cooperation and put in place additional improvement measures in the Pearl River Delta region to deal with the problem of regional air pollution."

Authorities in Gungdong say that Beijing has upped its spending on environmental protection in recent years, shelling out 23.4 billion yuan (U.S.$2.9 billion) in 2001 -- more than double the amount spent in 1998.

About 75 percent of the cash went to clean up the Pearl River Delta region.