Air quality in Hong Kong 'at all-time low'

The air quality in Hong Kong has reached an all-time low, according to environmental supporters.

Friends of the Earth revealed that the city's air quality levels were at an "unhealthy" level for ten per cent of the time during the first six months of 2010, Reuters reports.

It also confirmed that air pollution in Hong Kong had reached record highs throughout this period.

Activists descended on the city on Tuesday (September 7th 2010) in order to voice their concern to the government over the falling air quality.

Among the campaigners was legislator Audrey Eu, who told the news agency: "The bad air and pollution is actually giving Hong Kong a bad name and deterring people from coming."

"Think of the health cost," she added.

Mercer Consulting confirmed Hong Kong's high level of air pollution, ranking it 71st out of 221 cities in the world. Singapore was put in 28th position.

Earlier this week, Financial Times blogger Josh Noble spoke out about the high levels of carbon emissions in China, stating that the country has a "growing appetite for coal".

Posted by Claire Manning