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about Asia Buzz
Culture on Demand: People Power
Let your fingers do the talking
By STAN STALNAKER
April 8, 2000
Web posted at 7:30 p.m. Hong Kong time, 7:30 a.m. EST
For what seems like ages, Hong Kong citizens, intrepid visitors and yoga instructors have been complaining about the deteriorating air quality of the prosperous city state. Every day, taxis continue to belch out diesel smoke in thick toxic spumes. City buses rattle by, leaving trails of gagging pedestrians in their wake. And a thick gray haze rests on the horizon, blocking out the sun well before it sinks into the South China Sea. Children's eyes water. Old people get sick. And worst of all, it stains the Prada.
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There are any number of excuses for the fecal atmosphere--more cement factories in southern China are poisoning the air, the powerful taxi union (is there such a thing?), and the costly switch from diesel to less deadly fossil fuels are often cited.
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Christine Loh, the Hong Kong legislator who is widely regarded as
something of a crusader for these causes, recently circulated an email
with those all important governmental contacts for people to complain
to about the current atmospheric situation. Which, Tung Chee-hwa,
IS RIDICULOUS. Anyone with half a lung would undoubtedly agree, if
they could quit coughing long enough to speak.
So, in the words of Christine Loh and in the interest of a cleaner
culture on demand, I've cut and pasted portions of her email... just
click on the email addresses listed to send a note and vent your spleen
on this important issue. Remember, lower dry cleaning bills are at
stake!
Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's Chief Executive,
ceo@ceo.gcn.gov.hk
"Tell him that his officers in Transport, Highway's Department, Planning
Department, Customs, Economic Services, Police, Fire Services, Land's
Department and the Finance Bureau are not working hard enough together
to improve air quality despite his promises in his October 99 Policy
Address.
Anson Chan, Chief Secretary,
csohome@cso.gcn.gov.hk
"Ask her why she has failed to coordinate solutions to air pollution,
such as among the departments stated above. Why has it taken so long
to put up smoky vehicle fines?"
Donald Tsang, Financial Secretary,
fsohome@fso.gcn.gov.hk
"Tell him he has never looked into using the fiscal system to promote
environmentalism and that he should. Tell him he should stop giving
preferential duty to diesel."
Nicholas Ng, Transport Secretary,
nng@tb.gov.hk
"Tell him you think his officers have been tardy over the years to
regulate vehicular maintenance and that you think it is his direct
responsibility to do more. Tell him you want smoky vehicle fines to
be put up immediately to HK$5,000."
E K Yeoh, Secretary for Health & Welfare,
yeohek@hwb.gcn.gov.hk
"Ask him why you have never heard him speak out on the health problems
from air pollution and ask him what he is doing within and outside
government to lobby for clean air."
And the list goes on. O.K., so it's not like you're going to email
all of these people, but take a minute to at least tell some of them
what you think--it could have an impact. My yoga instructor always
says that the only way to change the machine is to address it first.
Perhaps we should.
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