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Care for the Air, Together

Over the years, Hong Kong's deteriorating air quality has caused great concern among the general public, tourists and investors. The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Hong Kong Business Coalition on the Environment are therefore leading a business sector effort - Project CLEAN AIR. Besides promoting a Clean Air Charter among the business sector, we have developed this "7-7-7 Care-for-Air" Guideline for the general public to take immediate, practical steps to contribute to improving air quality at home, at work and while travelling.

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Knowing more about Air Pollution

Air pollutants may come from factories, vehicles, power plants and many other sources. The most common air pollutants are sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), suspended particulates (SP), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone (O3). They are known to cause a number of health ailments ranging from respiratory disorders to cancer.

NOx, SP, VOCs and O3 are the key ingredients that contribute to the formation of smog. Smog can also lead to health ailments similar to those of the individual air pollutants.

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We encourage everyone to implement the "7-7-7 Care-for-Air" Guideline,
especially when the Air Pollution Index exceeds100.

The Air Pollution Index (API) ranges from 0 to 500, in five bands. An Index of 100 or higher means one or more pollutants may pose immediate health effects to certain susceptible members of our community, and generally healthy individuals may also notice some discomfort.

Air Pollution Index

Air Pollution Level

201-500

Severe

101-200

Very High

51-100

High

26-50

Medium

0-25

Low

In 2004, Hong Kong had experienced 87 days when the API exceeded 100, compared with 53 days in 2003.

Make That Little Effort at Home

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1. Switch off unnecessary domestic appliances - make use of natural light and ventilation.
2. Don't use standby mode - turn off appliances completely when not in use.
3. Set a comfortable room temperature - don't over cool or over heat.
4. Avoid using the tumble drier.
5. Don't use products containing VOCs, e.g. paints, hair and personal care sprays, etc.
6. Reduce direct emissions from cooking , e.g. thaw food in the fridge before cooking, postpone your BBQ, etc.
7. Don't smoke
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Make That Little Extra Effort at Work
1. Activate "sleep" mode in office equipment during the office hours, including photocopiers, scanners and printers.
2. Don't use standby mode after working hours - turn off unnecessary equipment completely including the computer.
3. Minimize photo-copying to reduce ozone emissions.
4. Wearing clothing that keeps you comfortable in the office.
5. Make conference calls or use other electronic media to reduce travelling for business meetings.
6. Adopt flexible working hours to reduce emissions caused by traffic congestion.
7. Use products with zero or low VOCs for renovations.

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Make That Little Extra Effort on the Road
1. Reduce unnecessary travelling.
2. Use the stairs wherever possible to save energy.
3. Walk or ride a bicycle for short journeys.
4. Use public transport.
5. Plan your travel or carpool to avoid single-passenger car trips.
6. Stop using vehicles that emit black smoke.
7. Don't leave the engine idling

Download 7-7-7 Leaflet

 

Copyright ©2005 The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. All Rights Reserved.