Hong Kong: Why do we live here?
Blueside down,
Before I came here, I too had the **** scared out of me by these sorts of threads. But blindly we came anyway. I am now leaving and taking my family back home because of the pollution. It really is BAAAAAAAAAD. And with kids, your worry will be ceaseless.
I don't actually regret coming - the expats here have made it a fabulous stay for the number of years we have been here - great people, great barbecues, great nights out. It has been a great adventure and HK IS a great place to live when the skies are clear. But that is getting rarer and the pollution is getting thicker. I cannot subject my kids to ANY risk at all of health problems due to the industrial waste we are forced to breathe. ANY risk at ALL for my precious papooses is too high. And any effects are a long way off appearing, so as the guys above have said, statistics now are meaningless.
Just to add a tad more to the life expectancy debate. The figures are derived by actually looking at deaths across the whole population - so African nations with high infant mortality rates are obviously lower on the life expectancy scale. So if you had a population with 15 million centenarians, one would think life expectancy would be a nice high figure, but if that same place had a huge infant mortality rate then the life expectancy figure is obviously deceptively lower. Hong Kong's life expectancy figure is high because infant mortality is rare. But as said earlier, the real effects of this relatively new phenomena will not ramificate for years.
And it is two new coal fired power stations commissioned per week.
Mate, get your wife out here for a week in December/January, and then when you find you can barely see across the harbour through the filthy brown crap - THEN you can make an informed decision.
But me?? I'm gong home in 2 months.
Before I came here, I too had the **** scared out of me by these sorts of threads. But blindly we came anyway. I am now leaving and taking my family back home because of the pollution. It really is BAAAAAAAAAD. And with kids, your worry will be ceaseless.
I don't actually regret coming - the expats here have made it a fabulous stay for the number of years we have been here - great people, great barbecues, great nights out. It has been a great adventure and HK IS a great place to live when the skies are clear. But that is getting rarer and the pollution is getting thicker. I cannot subject my kids to ANY risk at all of health problems due to the industrial waste we are forced to breathe. ANY risk at ALL for my precious papooses is too high. And any effects are a long way off appearing, so as the guys above have said, statistics now are meaningless.
Just to add a tad more to the life expectancy debate. The figures are derived by actually looking at deaths across the whole population - so African nations with high infant mortality rates are obviously lower on the life expectancy scale. So if you had a population with 15 million centenarians, one would think life expectancy would be a nice high figure, but if that same place had a huge infant mortality rate then the life expectancy figure is obviously deceptively lower. Hong Kong's life expectancy figure is high because infant mortality is rare. But as said earlier, the real effects of this relatively new phenomena will not ramificate for years.
And it is two new coal fired power stations commissioned per week.
Mate, get your wife out here for a week in December/January, and then when you find you can barely see across the harbour through the filthy brown crap - THEN you can make an informed decision.
But me?? I'm gong home in 2 months.
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Followed this thread with interest. I spent 14 years in HK, leaving in '99. I always remember the Novembers as having great wx, low humidity, great vis. and comfortable temperature.
I operated into HK 3 times last month (from Asia) each time it being poor vis. I was not aware that the pollution had become so bad. We were always concerned about pollution, but we preferred to live down town, rural living being an option. Now it seems you can't escape it. Thought I might go back to live one day, think I'll just nip back for a beer with old mates now.
Just hope it improves for you all.
DW
I operated into HK 3 times last month (from Asia) each time it being poor vis. I was not aware that the pollution had become so bad. We were always concerned about pollution, but we preferred to live down town, rural living being an option. Now it seems you can't escape it. Thought I might go back to live one day, think I'll just nip back for a beer with old mates now.
Just hope it improves for you all.
DW
Here's the problem.
To the Chinese (especially HK Chinese)
Favourite sport - money
Favourite music - money
Favourite pass time - money
favourite tele show - money
preferred political system - money
favourite holiday - money
favourite religion - money
favourite conversation topic - money
favourite night out - money
favourite band - money
favourite actor - money
favourite clothes - money
favourite pets - money
favourite color - BROWN, because when the sky is brown, that means.................................you guessed it
To the Chinese (especially HK Chinese)
Favourite sport - money
Favourite music - money
Favourite pass time - money
favourite tele show - money
preferred political system - money
favourite holiday - money
favourite religion - money
favourite conversation topic - money
favourite night out - money
favourite band - money
favourite actor - money
favourite clothes - money
favourite pets - money
favourite color - BROWN, because when the sky is brown, that means.................................you guessed it
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Another News Article...
Zap! Pow! Batman hit by Hong Kong pollution
Hong Kong
November 4, 2007 - 5:42PM
Batman might cut a superhuman figure as he fights off evil-doers to save the world, but Hong Kong's polluted harbour is, apparently, one death-defying stunt too far.
Producers shooting the new Batman movie have been forced to cut one scene involving the caped crusader - played by Christian Bale - jumping out of a plane into the city's famed Victoria Harbour.
According to the South China Morning Post, producers felt the poor water quality was just too dangerous for the action hero when shooting for part of the film takes place there in the coming week.
Citing unidentified production sources, it said the stunt had now been taken off the shooting list for The Dark Knight, which co-stars Australian actor Heath Ledger as the Joker and Michael Caine as Batman's long-suffering butler, Alfred. Christopher Nolan returns to direct the sequel to the 2005 hit Batman Begins.
"There was supposed to be a scene where Batman jumps out of the back of a Hercules C-130 and into Victoria Harbour," one source was quoted as saying.
"The plan was for Batman to be seen jumping into the water and then climbing up some bamboo, or something similar, onto a pier.
"But when they checked a water sample, they found all sorts of things, salmonella and tuberculosis, so it was cancelled. Now the action will cut to inside a building," the source added.
A spokeswoman for October Pictures, the Hong Kong production company which is managing the shoot, would not comment on the report.
A spokeswoman for Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department admitted that harbour water was not suitable for swimming due to untreated sewage, the newspaper said.
As well as poor water, Hong Kong also suffers from air pollution that on many days leaves the city clouded in haze, partly caused by local power plants and emissions from factories in the neighbouring Pearl River Delta region in southern China.
Hong Kong's harbour has long been polluted by industrial and residential sewage, and swimming is not recommended, said WWF's conservation director Andy Cornish.
"Even with the Batsuit on, swimming is not recommended. There is still a horrendous amount of effluent going into the harbour," he said.
The Warner Bros movie will be filmed in Hong Kong from November 6 to 12.
A major outdoor stunt is to be filmed at the International Finance Centre complex while the Peninsula Hotel will be used for other scenes.
Bale and his co-star Morgan Freeman will travel to Asia for the shoot, during which IMAX cameras will be used for the first time in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's glass and steel skyscrapers, glistening blue harbour and authentic Chinese winding streets have proven a popular backdrop for many Hollywood movies including the James Bond hit Tomorrow Never Dies.
AFP
Hong Kong
November 4, 2007 - 5:42PM
Batman might cut a superhuman figure as he fights off evil-doers to save the world, but Hong Kong's polluted harbour is, apparently, one death-defying stunt too far.
Producers shooting the new Batman movie have been forced to cut one scene involving the caped crusader - played by Christian Bale - jumping out of a plane into the city's famed Victoria Harbour.
According to the South China Morning Post, producers felt the poor water quality was just too dangerous for the action hero when shooting for part of the film takes place there in the coming week.
Citing unidentified production sources, it said the stunt had now been taken off the shooting list for The Dark Knight, which co-stars Australian actor Heath Ledger as the Joker and Michael Caine as Batman's long-suffering butler, Alfred. Christopher Nolan returns to direct the sequel to the 2005 hit Batman Begins.
"There was supposed to be a scene where Batman jumps out of the back of a Hercules C-130 and into Victoria Harbour," one source was quoted as saying.
"The plan was for Batman to be seen jumping into the water and then climbing up some bamboo, or something similar, onto a pier.
"But when they checked a water sample, they found all sorts of things, salmonella and tuberculosis, so it was cancelled. Now the action will cut to inside a building," the source added.
A spokeswoman for October Pictures, the Hong Kong production company which is managing the shoot, would not comment on the report.
A spokeswoman for Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department admitted that harbour water was not suitable for swimming due to untreated sewage, the newspaper said.
As well as poor water, Hong Kong also suffers from air pollution that on many days leaves the city clouded in haze, partly caused by local power plants and emissions from factories in the neighbouring Pearl River Delta region in southern China.
Hong Kong's harbour has long been polluted by industrial and residential sewage, and swimming is not recommended, said WWF's conservation director Andy Cornish.
"Even with the Batsuit on, swimming is not recommended. There is still a horrendous amount of effluent going into the harbour," he said.
The Warner Bros movie will be filmed in Hong Kong from November 6 to 12.
A major outdoor stunt is to be filmed at the International Finance Centre complex while the Peninsula Hotel will be used for other scenes.
Bale and his co-star Morgan Freeman will travel to Asia for the shoot, during which IMAX cameras will be used for the first time in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's glass and steel skyscrapers, glistening blue harbour and authentic Chinese winding streets have proven a popular backdrop for many Hollywood movies including the James Bond hit Tomorrow Never Dies.
AFP
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Location: HK- A little bit of industrial China in every breath you take.
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You guys have such short memories! Dont you remember the few clear days we had a couple of months ago? The HKG govt came out and said that they were due to their policies to reduce emmisions working? Obviously this stuff we see now is new polution from somewhere else! I cant believe the locals are so stupid and naieve that they actually swallow this $hit from the govt! (Pardon the pun). 
Any western country would see rioting in the streets if they had to endure just 1 day like this! Dont people power and communism go hand in hand? 
Dont worry , I know the answer. $$$$$$
Ironic isnt it? A few people at the top making billions off the blood sweat tears and deformed babies of the masses. Slowly choking the workers that make this economic miracle possible, while the masses get nothing in return. Isnt that why they had a revolution in the first place? How is it any different this time? Not sure this is quite what Mao and the red army had in mind.
Any western country would see rioting in the streets if they had to endure just 1 day like this! Dont people power and communism go hand in hand? Dont worry , I know the answer. $$$$$$ Ironic isnt it? A few people at the top making billions off the blood sweat tears and deformed babies of the masses. Slowly choking the workers that make this economic miracle possible, while the masses get nothing in return. Isnt that why they had a revolution in the first place? How is it any different this time? Not sure this is quite what Mao and the red army had in mind.
Avoid imitations
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Lived there for four years. After two of my three young sons spent time in hospital casualty wards, breathing nebulised air we decided something had to be done. Having taken medical advice I resigned from my contract and we left the territory for good. Cost me an estimated ŁK100 but I know it was worth every penny.
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It can't be that bad..
I have been an asthmatic since I was 7, so some 30+ years ago. I moved here in July and I now use fewer drugs than I did living in London. I can't give you scientific facts, just empirical data. The viz may be shiite, but it can't be all rubbish otherwise I'd be spending most days at the Matilda/Ruttonjee.
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Ronair - if you were asthmatic since seven you would know that asthma often has nothing to do with pollution. It can be pollen, humidity, dust and any one of a 100 different things that bring on the allergies that eventually cause asthma. Only reason you feel better here is cause of change in environment - ie you moved away from whatever caused you to get sick. BUT don't worry buddy - if you live here long enough - with your already weaker lung system than most - the pollution will eventually make you sick. And just like a child with weak and sensitive lungs - you will in the end suffer more than most.
You of all people should know better......
You of all people should know better......
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missingblade - having lived with this for some time, think I know a little about it, so I don't need lecturing..All I am saying is that there are a lot of histrionics on this forum and I know you CX/KA guys need excuses to leave, but just admit you can't cut the mustard, I will be there to take yr place....
Ron, with ridiculous comments like "can't cut the mustard....." You will fit in here just fine with your head in the sand with all the locals.
What Ron doesn't mention is that he is blind - well he must be to be insinuating pollution is not a problem here 'cause he obviously can't see it.
Dill
What Ron doesn't mention is that he is blind - well he must be to be insinuating pollution is not a problem here 'cause he obviously can't see it.
Dill
The Reverend
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'cos theres no f*cking plants!
Tai Tam Country Park, 06/09/2007.
Last edited by HotDog; 8th Nov 2007 at 01:36.
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" Why do we live here ? "
Well, with the HKD following the USD like some sort of stalker sheep, and the aviation industry bleeding for pilots worldwide, it aint going to be the money for too much longer
Well, with the HKD following the USD like some sort of stalker sheep, and the aviation industry bleeding for pilots worldwide, it aint going to be the money for too much longer
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Think you're being a tad disingenuous there Rev....I notice your photo doesn't show the blizzard like drifts of polystyrene boxes and plastic bags left by the locals on their days out, nor the barbie forks thrown everywhere by the barbies for your kid to get tetanus from, and is that mist or pollution in the sky?
The Reverend
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Kitsune, you have obviously never walked your dog through the Tai Tam Country Park lately. There is not a shred of rubbish or barbecue forks to be seen anywhere and I have noticed the same cleanliness in other rural retreats like the Sai Kung Country Park. It all seemed to change after SARS hit the place.