Following the latest IPCC report published in March, warning that we are running out of time to limit global warming to 1.5C, the climate crisis is accelerating at a pace like never before. From deforestation to plastic pollution, several factors are causing the exacerbation of climate change. As part of Earth.Org’s ‘Environmental Issues’ series, here are some of the biggest ones Hong Kong faces in 2024. 

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Biggest Environmental Issues in Hong Kong

1. Outdoor Air Pollution

One of the top environmental issues in Hong Kong is air pollution. According to a 2022 study of global mortality and pollution levels published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, 9 million people around the world die from outdoor air pollution every year. Long-term exposure to severe air pollution also poses serious health problems ranging from chronic respiratory infections and diseases to increased risk of cancer. 

Based on Hong Kong Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) records, street-level air pollution in densely populated areas including Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok often exceed WHO guidelines, reflecting a sizeable number of Hong Kong residents breathing in air that contains high levels of pollutants every day.  

Causes of air pollution in Hong Kong derive from sources like fossil fuel motor vehicles and regional smog, which is caused by pollutants from marine vessels and industrial power plants within the city and from mainland China. 

Though the Hong Kong government has announced plans to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, the current rate of carbon emissions shows no signs of slowing down. As for 2021, the number of private motor vehicles registered in Hong Kong reaches up to 657,000, nearly 30,000 more vehicles compared to the previous year. Despite being home to one of the best public transportation systems in the world, Hong Kong residents still heavily rely on private cars when commuting in the city and that proportion continues to grow with each passing year. Within the past decade, the volume of private cars has increased by almost a third, contributing massive amounts of carbon emissions in the city. 

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While the government has made efforts to regulate emissions from industrial power plants and marine vessels that pass through our waters, smog from the Pearl River Delta region has proven difficult to control. Collaboration efforts with Guangdong authorities have been made in improving air quality in the Great Bay Area region, but improvements in air quality have yet to be seen. 

One of three strategic landfill sites in Tuen Mun, Hong Kong. Photo: Edwin Lee/Flickr.

2. Landfill Waste

One of the most glaring environmental issues Hong Kong currently faces is landfill waste. Every year, about 4.17 million tonnes of solid waste make its way to our landfills, and during to the coronavirus pandemic, local waste has exponentially grown thanks to the increased use of food takeout boxes, plastic cutleries and single-use masks. Landfill gases, which are emissions from landfills decompose organic waste, will continue to surge as a result and contribute towards global warming, especially when you consider 40-60% of landfill emissions are methane gases, and have 10 times the warming potential than carbon dioxide. 

As one of the most densely populated cities in the world with a population of almost 7.5 million people, Hong Kong is in an immensely difficult position to create new dedicated landfills sites. Reducing and recycling waste is the only viable long term solution in dealing with the city’s insurmountable landfill waste problem. And while the Waste Charging Scheme passed by the Legislative Council in late 2021 – 16 years after it was first proposed – is a good first step, much more is needed to tackle the issue.

More on the topic: Can the Municipal Waste Charging Scheme Help With Waste Reduction in Hong Kong?

3. Plastic Pollution 

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Hong Kong generate about 3.9 billion disposable food and drink containers every year. This amounts to 170 takeaway meals and 180 disposal drinks for every Hongkonger. As restaurants limit opening hours and seating capacities during the pandemic, people rely on takeaway options and the amount of plastic containers and cutleries used and disposed of has only soared. In 2020, plastics made up 21% of the city’s total municipal solid waste (MSW), accounting for the third-largest share of MSW after food waste and paper. The city’s beaches and waterways are drowning in plastic, and microplastic levels in the sea are 40% higher than the global average. According to estimates,  more than 5,000 pieces of microplastic can be found in every square metre of sea.

Some F&B companies have made the effort to adopt biodegradable and even compostable takeaway packaging and utensils, but a majority of local restaurants and small businesses still opt for low-cost materials like styrofoam. 

The lack of an efficient recycling infrastructure is a major contributing factor in the plastic crisis in Hong Kong. In 2019, less than 20% of plastic packaging waste was recycled due to the lack of adequate recycling facilities. Prior to China’s Waste Ban, where the country placed a ban on importing unprocessed materials, Hong Kong used to offload the city’s rubbish to the mainland for recycling. Since the policy implementation, Hong Kong has yet developed enough recycling plants to compensate. While some government interventions such as the Plastic Recycling Pilot Scheme seem to be working, as Hong Kong experienced a 27% increase in locally recycled plastics in 2020, plastic problem is still haunting the city.

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4. Food Waste

Known as an international food paradise, Hong Kong has a reputation for affordable and a stunning variety of international cuisines. Consequently, this means that food waste is equally high in the city and without a doubt one of the biggest environmental issues that Hong Kong faces. 

Food waste in Hong Kong accounts for about 30% of municipal solid waste that goes straight to landfills. In 2019, a recorded 1,067 tonnes of food waste were produced from commercial and industrial sources such as restaurants, hotels and wet markets. The amount of food waste has also been on the rise especially in the F&B industry where it grew from 800 tonnes per day in 2012 to 1,000 tonnes of waste generated per day in 2019. 

While the government has introduced educational initiatives and an operating organic waste recovery center OPARK, over 3,600 tonnes of food waste are still being sent to Hong Kong’s landfills each day, contributing to over hundred thousand tonnes of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. 

Land reclamation site for Central piers, Hong Kong. Photo: Piqsels.

5. Biodiversity Loss

Hong Kong has surprisingly rich biodiversity thanks to its large natural terrain and coastal waters. In fact, 40% of the city’s land belongs to country parks and protected areas, which supports more than 3,300 species of vascular plants, 57 species of terrestrial mammals, and more than 540 species of birds. Our waters also support over 1,000 species of fishes, too. 

However, in order to make space for the city’s already dense and growing population, Hong Kong has devoted much effort in urbanisation and land reclamation. Land development, be it deforestation or illegal waste dumping, is one of the growing environmental issues be in Hong Kong, and has led to significant impacts to the local biodiversity and habits. 

The pink dolphin, also known as the Chinese white dolphin, is a prime example of how local species are threatened by continued land development. The waters surrounding Hong Kong have been part of the dolphins’ habitat for centuries, with recorded sightings going back to the Tang Dynasty. The number of pink dolphins that frequent Hong Kong coastlines has dropped to about 300 in recent years due to heavy vessel traffic and most importantly, its shrinking habitat. The development of the Chek Lap Kok island, which is home to the Hong Kong International Airport, and the associated land reclamation have reduced the amount of fish dolphins can eat while dredging has unearthed pollution from the seafloor causing water pollution. A massive 1,700 hectares land reclamation plan near the easter waters of Lantau Island that was proposed in 2018 will further deteriorate the dolphin habitat as well as increase vulnerabilities to rising sea levels. 

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Another serious threat to Hong Kong biodiversity is illegal wildlife trafficking. The city is home to one of the largest hubs for the illegal wildlife trafficking industry thanks to its free ports, geographical location in the Greater Bay Area and accessibility to other Asian countries. Every year, the city sees millions of live animals and their derivatives pass through its ports. In 2019 alone, more than 7,000 endangered animals were illegally traded in the city, including pangolins and live turtles. However a landmark bill was passed in August 2021 which will treat illegal wildlife trading and seizures as a serious crime while placing greater attention on organised criminals and networks instead of carriers and mules. The passage of the amendment aims to deter smuggling operations and supply networks in the city. 

6. Water Pollution 

Hong Kong is a unique city surrounded by the South China Sea, where marine waters cover about 1700 km² and home to a wide range of different marine environments. In the early 1970s and 80s, most of the city’s sewage and wastewater were discharged into the sea, with little to no treatment. As a result, Hong Kong waters experienced a surge in organic and inorganic pollutants, a reduction of oxygen content, and increased bacteria levels. By 2005, Hong Kong generated about 2 million tonnes of wastewater as well as industrial effluents every day, making it one of the main sources of water pollution in Hong Kong. 

Marine pollution has also been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as an additional 4,680 to 6,240 metric tonnes of marine plastic waste made its way into the Hong Kong waters. An estimated 1.56 billion face masks were dumped into the ocean during this period, which experts have said will take as long as 450 years to break down. Microplastics from single-use masks are also incredibly harmful to marine life and the ecosystem, potentially killing up to 100,000 marine mammals and turtles, and over a million seabirds. 

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The bustling metropolis of Hong Kong boasts a diverse and stunning natural landscape, with numerous hiking trails that attract both locals and tourists. In recent years, a number of environmental groups and NGOs have raised concerns about the widespread use of concrete in trail management in Hong Kong. Concrete, a popular and resource-intensive construction material, is associated with habitat destruction and other environmental issues. In a conversation with Earth.Org, Agnes Cheng from the Concern Group on Concretisation and Vivien Cheng from Hong Kong-based non-profit Green Earth shared how they advocate for sustainable trail management and successfully get both citizens and the government involved in awareness and conservation campaigns.

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Hong Kong, a city renowned for its stunning skyline and bustling urban environment, is also home to a remarkable natural landscape that often surprises visitors. With a distinct blend of high-rise skyscrapers, lush mountains, and picturesque coastlines, the city presents a unique juxtaposition of urban development and natural beauty. Rather than skyscrapers dominating the landscape, as one would expect when visiting one of the world’s most densely populated cities, Hong Kong resembles a dense forest interspersed with clusters of towering buildings. Home to 24 country parks, 22 special areas, and eight marine parks and reserves – which make up about 40% of the city’s land area – the city offers great opportunities for outdoor exploration and scenic escapes.

Unfortunately, the rapid pace of construction and urban government projects over the years have left a significant mark on the city’s hiking trails. Concrete paths for access and maintenance purposes have rapidly replaced the untouched terrain that once defined these outdoor havens, giving rise to unique challenges. 

While concrete looks like a convenient solution, it has serious long-term repercussions on the environment, often giving a “false sense of permanence,” explained Agnes Cheng, co-founder of the Concern Group on Concretization of Hong Kong Natural Trails.

The conservation initiative was established in 2016 by a small group of community volunteers led by amateur trail running athlete Stone Tsang as a social media campaign. It has since expanded to a network of more than 100 volunteers and more than 8,000 followers dedicated to raising awareness about the negative impact of concrete on natural trails and promoting trail conservation and responsible use. In recent years, the Group has engaged with government departments, NGOs, and conservation experts to identify trail management issues and advocate for more sustainable solutions.

The Beginnings

The Concern Group on Concretisation beginnings coincided with a large-scale renovation project of the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail, a major trading route connecting the two major towns Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan in the New Territories in northwestern Hong Kong. For centuries, people commuted between the two towns by walking across a treacherous mountain. Nowadays, the trail is a well-paved, 12.5km concrete path with rest pavilions, picnic spots, and camping grounds along the way. 

“I’ve been following Stone on social media for a long time, I’m a big fan,” said Cheng, herself an experienced trail runner. “One day, he started talking about the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail renovation project the government was working on, explaining that, instead of renovating it, they had completely replaced the natural path with a paved path built mainly with concrete and stones.”

Concrete paving has been a common approach for trail renovation projects in Hong Kong for decades. For example, the extent of concretisation of the 100-kilometre long MacLehose Trail, Hong Kong’s oldest trail, is 50%.

The situation abroad is fairly different. 

Recalling her trips to France and Japan, Cheng said that while people  in Hong Kong take concrete paths for granted, she had almost never seen concrete stairs or paved paths abroad. “When I went to Japan, I learned from the locals that Mount Fuji is unpaved because people see mountains as a very sacred place. And that made me think: ‘Why can it not be the same in Hong Kong?’” 

Tsang’s appeals on social media to stop the renovation of the Yuen Tsuen Ancient Trail marked the first time such practice was openly and widely criticised in Hong Kong. “It was very enlightening,” said Cheng. 

Shortly after that, herself, Tsang, and two friends and fellow hikers joined forces to work on a mission: convince the government to change practice.

What’s Wrong With Concrete?

Concrete represents about 35-40% of all material consumption by mankind, second only to water. If the cement industry was a country, it would be the third-largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world, surpassed only by China and the US. 

According to a 2018 report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), global cement demand will rise to substantially more than 60 billion tons per year in 2050, while consumption is expected to double. After all, for centuries, concrete has been the basic material for all types of construction, including housing, roads, schools, hospitals, dams and ports, for decorative applications such as patios, floors, staircases, driveways, and pool decks, as well as for items like tables, sculptures, or bookcases.

Though many do not realise it, there is a dark side to it. For a starter, the production of concrete involves the extraction of raw materials like limestone, clay, and sand from the Earth, a resource-intensive process that can lead to habitat destruction, soil erosion, and disruption of ecosystems. Manufacturing of concrete also requires a significant amount of energy, making it the most energy-intensive of all manufacturing industries.

In the case of trails, Cheng explained that problems arise even before the actual building of a concrete path.

“Let’s say the government needs to build a 15-metre concrete staircase on a slope to facilitate access to a remote village. Very often, whole patches of soil, usually double or even triple the staircase width, are removed to facilitate the transportation of concrete to the building site,” she explained.

“The problem is that once you remove the topsoil, vegetation doesn’t come back as you have erosion happening on both sides of the concrete path.”

Besides destroying the natural landscape and the species that inhabit it, concrete paths are very hard on the knees and generally an unhealthy and unattractive option for hikers and trail runners, explained Cheng, who recalled how many trails in Hong Kong become slippery and unstable when it rains. What’s more, contrary to what most people think, concrete is susceptible to weathering and erosion, especially in harsh climates. Exposure to freeze-thaw cycles, extreme temperatures, high humidity, and acidic rain can gradually wear down the surface of the concrete, making repair works a regular occurrence.  

‘A Very Standardised Process’

The strong desire to advocate for better and more sustainable practices convinced the four friends that the only way to change these environmentally problematic practices was to speak directly to those in charge.

“When we first contacted the AFCD [Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department], we were surprised to find that they had already been exploring the same questions that we were raising. However, they lacked the know-how,” explained Cheng.

The department’s openness to exploring more sustainable alternatives was the main driver behind a years-long collaboration between the Concern Group and the government. Ever since 2016, Cheng and other volunteers have been working with AFCD – the main department responsible for constructing and maintaining hiking trails in Hong Kong – to fly in experts and academics from Taiwan and Japan to train the department’s employees on best practices in trail construction and management and sustainable alternatives, which include wood and stone gravels.

“If you ask me what has been the most satisfying journey of the past seven years, it has to be the very first time we had a direct conversation with the government about the potential impact of their activities,” said Cheng.  

Since the beginning, the Group has successfully managed to convince the AFCD to scrape a project altogether or scale-down huge concretisation plans. Despite these success stories, however, time also uncovered deeper issues.  

As Cheng explained, the Hong Kong government does not have a conservation framework or mandate, meaning that there are often no incentives to take the environmental repercussions of urban projects into account. “[G]overnment departments are not in the business of conservation. They would approach [trail management projects] from a public works or engineering project perspective, and often subcontracted out the work as well. However, subcontractors hardly understand sustainability and conservation needs and they would inevitably use concrete,” explained Tsang. 

“Because [the government] does not have any conservation standards to follow, the default option is, of course, to use concrete,” Cheng added. 

And while the AFCD and other departments are generally transparent about the interventions they plan, oftentimes the Group hears about a trail project when it has already begun, making it difficult to intervene. 

“In Hong Kong, you often see official documents on the fences near construction sites. In these cases, you can ring up the government and ask more details about the plan. But by then, it’s often too late. Ideally you have an early conversation before a project begins,” said Cheng.

“We have found ourselves in situations where the extent of the damage caused by a project ended up being exactly what we had anticipated. Months of negotiations for nothing, it’s quite frustrating.”

Training Volunteers

Joining forces with the AFCD and Hong Kong-based non-profit organisation The Green Earth (TGE), the Concern Group has initiated various awareness campaigns and training programmes to educate the community on the environmental impacts of concrete and train a network of more than 140 volunteers on sustainable trail management and conservation practices.  

“Conservation is a lot of awareness and hard work but we need it because we need to maintain the balance of the system. If we upset the system, sooner or later we won’t get to enjoy it. We need to preserve it for future generations,” explained Tsang.

Launched in August 2018 by TGE, the “ECF Make Our Nature Trails Sustainable – Leave No Trace Education Programme” is an initiative funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund that aims to promote the concept of sustainable trail management through a series of public educational activities based on the fundamental principle of “Leave No Trace” (LNT). 

The activities include seminars about trails conservation, guided tours, trail cleanup actions and a trail maintenance volunteer scheme.

“The Trail Repairing Volunteer Squad Training Programme has drawn much attention from the public,” Vivien Cheng, Director of Community Partnership at TGE, told Earth.Org by email. 

Dozens of passionate hikers, trail runners, teachers, and nature lovers join the programme each year, where they learn the concept of “eco-crafted trails” – Taiwan’s traditional way of repairing mountain trails by sourcing local natural materials and building or maintaining them according to local conditions – use of natural materials, manual work, and low-impact methods to build trails by actively participating in maintenance and repair works. 

In 2021, the AFCD issued a special permit to TGE – the first NGO in Hong Kong to obtain it – allowing its well-trained volunteers to conduct designated trail maintenance works such as clearing drainage systems and blocking shortcuts.

Advocacy, education, and public participation have proven to play a crucial role in preserving the natural integrity of Hong Kong’s trails, maintaining the unique hiking experience, and protecting the ecological and cultural heritage of the region. 

Featured image: Tom Grundy/hongkongfp.com

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The Hong Kong consumerism culture is at the heart of the city’s ongoing plastic pollution problem. Hong Kong’s beaches and waterways are drowning in plastic and nearly 6,000 marine species are now considered endangered. Hongkongers’ Christmas spending sprees significantly add up to the city’s monumental waste crisis, a year-round problem. In this article, two important questions will be addressed. How can Hongkongers avoid generating excess amounts of plastic waste from buying gifts during Christmas? And, more importantly, how can businesses, consumers, and the government work together to create a circular economy where plastics can be processed in ways that do not harm the environment?

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It’s The Most Wasteful Time of the Year

With Christmas just around the corner, we’re all already thinking about how we are going to prepare for the most joyful festival of the year. This is also a time of giving; as the hectic year comes to an end, it is the ideal time to reward ourselves and our loved ones with presents.

Unfortunately, Christmas is also one of the most wasteful times of the year. According to a study, global waste levels increase by around 30% during this period. While figures may vary from country to country depending on how important they view the holiday, Hong Kong definitely has one of the world’s most festive and grand Christmas celebrations.

One need not think too hard to know how wasteful Christmas can be in Hong Kong. People have long criticised yearly Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations for the abysmal amounts of waste that they create as a result of excess packaging of mooncakes and the enormous interest in single-use glow sticks. While Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations may last for days, the Christmas season lasts for weeks, even months. As a result, it is not surprising to see how much waste we generate during Christmas, as festive lights and decorations are sent directly to landfills while artificial Christmas trees are dumped on the side of streets.

According to a 2015 survey by HK-based charity GreenPower, about 5 tonnes of waste were once collected on Christmas Eve in Tsim Sha Tsui alone, which occupies less than 0.1% of Hong Kong’s landmass. They also suggest that “if every person in Hong Kong was to give one thoroughly-wrapped present, 138 tonnes of wrapping paper would be used, requiring 2,400 tress and 240,000 litres of petroleum as raw materials.”

Nobody wants to be a killjoy during Christmas; to bring up an existential discussion about Hong Kong’s plastic waste problem out of nowhere is no fun. But since there is still some time until official celebrations begin, it’s better to be a party pooper now than later.

The Plastic Waste Problem Is a Cultural Problem

While these “extravagant” Christmas numbers are expected, Hongkongers are known to be lavish spenders all year round. According to a 2017 study, Hong Kong consumerism and spending habits are among the unhealthiest in the world. Even though the pandemic has led to a slight drop in consumption, the city has already “resiliently” bounced back, as people have also turned to online retail. As David Dodwell, executive director of the Hong Kong-APEC Trade Policy Study Group, rightly points out, Hongkongers are without exaggeration deserving of the label “shopaholics”.

And with excessive consumption comes excessive waste. It is therefore no surprise that Hong Kong’s landfills grow so rapidly. According to the Environmental Protection Department, more than 10 thousand tonnes of waste are dumped every day. That’s the equivalent of about 1.5 kg per person; and 21% of this waste is plastic, a huge proportion of which is not recyclable. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, Hongkongers threw away about 3.9 billion disposable food and drink containers every year. In 2020, these figures have continued to grow at exponential rates, as people have increasingly relied on food takeaway options, which often involve using plastic boxes and cutlery. Hong Kong’s move toward online retail also worsens the problem, as products purchased online are often over-packaged in plastic.

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The Dangers of Hong Kong Consumerism 

The wasteful impacts of Hong Kong consumerism go a long way.

When in landfills, plastics release toxic chemicals and gases into the air. This can dramatically affect local biodiversity, especially when landfill sites in Hong Kong are primarily situated in the countryside. Moreover, huge quantities of plastic waste make their way into the ocean, destroying habitats and representing a huge danger to marine animals. The city‘s beaches and waterways are drowning in plastic, and microplastic levels in the sea are 40% higher than the global average.

According to a research conducted by the Education University of Hong Kong between 2017 and 2018, more than 3,000 pieces of microplastic can be found in every square metre of sea, one of the highest rates in the world. This and other environmental issues, coupled with poor conservation efforts and low environmental awareness among the public, are the reason why Hong Kong missed the United Nations’ Aichi Targets that are intended to curb biodiversity loss and the destruction of nature, as a report found last year.

Humans can also be affected, even if they are nowhere near locations with concentrated amounts of plastic waste. Exposure to the gases released from plastics can cause respiratory problems such as asthma, as a study on Hong Kong found. Moreover, when plastic containers are exposed to high temperatures (such as during Hong Kong’s hot summers), particles can leach into our foods and drinks; if they enter our body, they can be very damaging. Consequences range from hormonal disruption to developmental delays and even cancer.

But if the environmental and physical health arguments against irresponsible and wasteful consumption aren’t enough, consider the mental health arguments. As many studies have found, materialistic tendencies are significantly linked to decreased life satisfaction, happiness and quality of relationships. While gifts can certainly make us and our loved ones happier, an unhealthy focus on possessions can distract us from the meaningfulness of personal relationships. In wanting more, we can never be satisfied with what we already have. This has been found to lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health problems.

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Rethinking Gifts in An Age of Consumerism

There are plenty of resources out there that offer useful eco-friendly strategies for celebrating Christmas and choosing greener gifts in Hong Kong. They show that spending on gifts on our loved ones and protecting the environment need not be a zero-sum game. 

But these strategies may not do much to combat plastic waste pollution if Hong Kong consumerism and our exorbitant lifestyles remain the same. Instead, this would only results in what some have referred to as “green materialism”. What we need is a fundamental re-examination of our consumption habits.

It is therefore important that we rethink the meaning of gifts. Key to this is a recognition that human desires are never-ending and can never be fully satisfied. If giving was done purely out of gratification, we would find ourselves giving all the time; not only would we run out of money, gifts would also lose their meaning and value. To reclaim the meaning of gifts, we should instead focus on making every gift memorable and precious. We give gifts not just because they are demanded, but because we want our receivers to feel our special love and care.

This is why giving should not be a routine but a wonder. We may hence find ourselves giving less; not because we are selfish, but because we take whom we give seriously: they are not “errands” to be run, but relationships that we treasure.

Giving less is also a simple way to show our love and care to the environment. As evidence shows, buying less has significantly more positive environmental implications than “green buying”, with the major reason being that it reduces one’s footprint and waste more effectively. The broader implication is that not only should we give less, but we should buy less in general. This does not mean we should not stop giving; it means that we should be more mindful of the consequences of our own purchases.

At the same time, consuming less encourages us to consume higher-quality items that last longer. And when we get better quality experiences out of our purchases, we will also feel happier. Given Hong Kong’s well-known lavish spending habits, a slight reduction in Hongkongers’ existing levels of consumption will far from become a “repression” of individual desires.

As there is still some time until Christmas, let’s start rethinking about the purpose of giving. What gifts should we get? Where best can we get them? How much should we get?

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Consumers Are Not the Only Ones to Blame

It is encouraging to see that consumers’ preferences are increasingly shaped by environmental concerns. Many now prefer sustainable brands and often show distaste in the fact that their purchases are too often heavily coated in single-use plastic packaging. This is a trend that is even more apparent in Asian countries.

But this demand shift in mentality has not forced producers to look for better alternatives. As June Wong, lead research on marine plastics at the World Wide Fund for Nature in Hong Kong, explains, inertia on the supply side is so prevalent for the very fact that plastic is a significantly cheaper and more convenient option.

This is reinforced by the fact that Hong Kong’s producer responsibility schemes (PRS) are still significantly underdeveloped with regard to plastic waste management: beverage suppliers are the only group required by law to pay for collection and recycling of their plastic bottles, meaning that Hong Kong’s other culprits such as online retail stores continue to run unencumbered. There is little to no incentive for the majority of companies in Hong Kong to be more eco-friendly in their production.

What Do We As a Society Need to Do to Help Reduce Our Plastic Pollution?

To tackle Hong Kong consumerism and the plastic waste problem seriously, we should consider how producers, consumers and collectors can collaborate to create a more robust recycling infrastructure for plastics and other kinds of municipal waste. Collectively, they can help create a circular economy where plastic components and products are designed, packaged, consumed and treated in ways that minimise leakage of plastics into the natural environment.

On the production side of things, Hong Kong needs a more comprehensive strategy to regulate and strengthen suppliers’ commitment  to “plastic footprint” reduction. In this regard, the government will need to be way more ambitious with its producer responsibility schemes: by implementing pre-market producer responsibility schemes (PPRS), as they require producers to revamp their business models to consider adequately not only the end-of-life of plastics but also their entire life cycle.

With regard to consumers, the government can consider methods to encourage responsible disposal of plastics after consumption. Some have suggested that Hong Kong look to Norway’s deposit return system (DRS) as an example: a customer deposit is required when they buy an item packaged in a single-use plastic container; they can only receive the deposit when the container is returned. This way customers may be incentivised to recycle or think twice before buying an item.

Consumers also have active roles to play: strong awareness can pressurise producers to use less plastics in their manufacturing processes. In many places, public pressure has indeed forced companies to ditch plastics; it’s about time Hongkongers do the same.

These initiatives, however, depend crucially on collection: if recyclable plastics are not collected properly – which has been the case in Hong Kong – then all the aforementioned efforts will go to waste. In Hong Kong, this needs to be taken seriously. Firstly, Hongkongers’ “plastic literacy” requires drastic improvements: What kinds of plastics can be recycled in Hong Kong? How should we clean or sort different types of plastics so that they won’t just end up in the landfill? In turn, Hongkongers may also become more conscious consumers to consider other important questions; for example, what products or brands might enhance the recovery rate of plastics? 

Consequently, accessibility to recycling points also needs to improve. This involves increasing the number of collection points in Hong Kong, as well as improving access to information about their locations and purposes. How many people in Hong Kong actually know about the government’s “Reverse Vending Machines” today?

Altogether, the solution to Hong Kong consumerism and monumental waste problem is not to turn away from plastic – as plastic does have its environmental benefits. Instead, the solution is to be more attentive to the consequences when plastics are being involved. Together, we can make Hong Kong a plastic smart city. Of course everybody wants Christmas to be enjoyable – but we don’t want it to be the only season to be jolly. Since we still have a bit of time, let us think about how we can prepare for a more eco-friendly festivity.

Featured image by johnlsl/Flickr

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About 3,353 tonnes of food are sent to landfill every day in Hong Kong, the equivalent of the weight of 233 double-decker buses. To fight the growing challenges of food waste and plastic pollution, in 2021, the city’s Legislative Council passed a new waste disposal ordinance which is set to come into effect on April 1, 2024. This article aims to explore the key features of the scheme as well as its potential advantages and drawbacks.

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Background

Hong Kong generates a substantial amount of solid waste each day, which is causing long-term environmental problems on a local and global scale. Indeed, solid waste directly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through the release of methane during anaerobic decomposition process of waste, a potent greenhouse gas with 84-86 times higher in global warming potential than carbon dioxide across a 20-year period.

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According to the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD), in 2021, 5.67 million tonnes of solid wastes were disposed of at landfills, with municipal solid waste (MSW) accounting for over 70% of the total. 30% of it is food waste, followed by plastics (21%) and waste paper (20%). Hongkongers dispose of 1.53 kilogrammes of MSW per day, two times higher than the global average, with a recycling rate of only 31%. 

Why is this alarming? According to data by the World Bank, the East Asia and Pacific region generated the most waste in 2016, and it is forecast to be the leading waste producer from 2030 to 2050. In 2016, solid waste treatment and disposal generated 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 5% of worldwide emissions. 

Hong Kong has already closed 13 of its landfills, and the remaining three – West New Territories (WENT), South East New Territories (SENT) and North East New Territories (NENT) – are expected to be depleted soon given the current disposal pace. 

Recognising the urgent need to tackle this issue, in 2021, the government implemented the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Charging Scheme, a crucial step towards waste reduction and effective resource management.

Municipal Waste Charging

The Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme will be implemented in accordance with the “polluter-pays” principle for waste disposals from all sectors, including residential and non-residential establishments (commercial and industrial sectors). 

The “Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035” released in February 2021 includes a medium-term target to decrease the amount of waste disposed of per person by 40-45%, and to increase the recovery rate to approximately 55% through the implementation of regulatory policies, promotion of awareness campaigns, public education, and other measures. In the long-term, the government plans to achieve “Zero Landfill” by 2035 through the development of sufficient waste-to-energy facilities and by eventually eliminating the need for landfill disposal altogether. 

Charging Modes

Dual charging modes have been proposed, namely “charging by authorised bags/labels” and “charging by weight via gate-fee.” 

The designated bags charges apply to MSW collected by the Hong Kong Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) via refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) and refuse collection points (RCPs), as well as by private waste collectors (PWCs) using RCVs equipped with rear compactors. Pre-paid designated bags will be available in nine sizes ranging from three to 100 litres. The price will be HK$0.11/litre for the first three years, and $11 per-label for oversized waste. Starting February 2024, these specified bags and labels will be accessible at authorised retail establishments such as supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, and online platforms.

The “gate-fee”, on the other hand, applies to MSW collected and disposed of by private waste collectors (PWCs) using RCVs without rear compactors based on the weight of MSW disposed of at waste disposal facilities, excluding the mandatory use of designated bags or labels.

What Are the Benefits of a Municipal Waste Charging Scheme?

1. Encourage waste reduction and promote recycling

Due to limited land spaces for waste disposals, the primary objective of the scheme is to incentivise waste reduction at the source. By imposing charges on waste disposal, individuals and businesses are motivated to reduce waste generation, adopt recycling practices, and make informed choices about consumption patterns. 

Under the new proposed policy instrument, each household in Hong Kong will pay up to HK$55 (approximately US$7) per month, on average, for waste disposal. Hence, it is expected residents and businesses will consider alternatives to save on waste charges. One way to do this is by following the ‘3Rs’ principle: reuse, reduce, and recycle.

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2. Shift responsibility and raise awareness

The scheme emphasises the principle of “polluter pays”. This will shift responsibility for waste management from the government to waste producers, making individuals and businesses more accountable for the waste they generate. 

To facilitate the smooth implementation of the scheme, the government has launched extensive public education campaigns such as “Dump Less, Save More”. The project aims to provide firsthand experience in a quantity-based charging implementation through community involvement projects and collaboration with government departments and stakeholder groups such as the Environmental Campaign Committee, village representatives, green groups, and schools in launching activities. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about waste reduction, recycling, and the benefits of sustainable waste management practices.

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3. Cut greenhouse gas emissions

A 2022 study on China’s household waste management system revealed that the measure is contributing to reducing climate change impacts, including emissions. This is because less municipal waste translates into less energy required to transport and process that waste. 

Additionally, waste reduction can also reduce the amount of methane produced in landfills, which account for 8% of global emissions. 

4. Waste Control

By introducing financial incentives, the scheme encourages individuals and businesses to actively reduce waste generation. This can lead to a significant decrease in the overall volume of waste disposed of in landfills. 

A 2008 published study conducted on 954 Japanese municipalities with pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) systems in place experienced an overall reduction in waste generation. In particular, case studies of four municipalities showed that the implementation of PAYT programs reduced the amount of residual waste generated by 20% to 30%. Moreover, when combined with other measures, such as the recycling of containers and packaging, PAYT programmes were found to bring about significant reduction in waste.

5. Improve waste reduction and recycling efforts

According to the government, with the idea of “dedicated-fund-for-dedicated-use“, the revenue generated from the MSW charging scheme will be used to enhance waste reduction and recycling work, a move that is expected to improve the efficiency and sustainability of waste management in Hong Kong. 

Potential Drawbacks

An introduction of a unit pricing system on waste disposal can significantly raise the cases of illegal dumping. 

A research conducted between 2001-2003 and looking at 16 provinces in South Korea found that an additional increase in the pay-by-the-bag unit pricing system of legal disposal had little effect in reducing overall waste generation. For instance, a 1% increase in the legal bag price led to a 3% increase in the number of reports of illegal dumping. On the other hand, a 1% increase in the compensation for recycled goods led to a 6% decrease in the number of reports of illegal dumping. 

Moreover, a 2003 study of 533 PAYT municipalities conducted by the Japan Waste Management Association found that 68% of municipalities had faced issues related to illegal dumping, with 42% experiencing inappropriate discharge and 26% experiencing increased illegal dumping. 

Illegal waste disposal harms the environment and society by degrading public lands, lowering property value, affecting visual appeal, attracting more illegal waste disposal, and increasing government clean-up costs. Hence, it is imperative to formulate an effective policy that will prevent the outbreak of illegal waste disposal in Hong Kong and allocate resources towards the promotion of recycling initiatives. 

A 2019 paper investigating the reasons behind illegal waste disposal suggested that the issue could be prevented by raising public awareness and eco-responsibility through education programmes as well as by emphasising the environmental and health hazards via visual stimuli and messages in text nudges at designated disposal sites. 

Furthermore, the government enforcement efforts should be differentiated across different areas. For instance, the Environmental Protection Department intertwined with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) can incorporate the utilisation of monitoring surveillance systems in blackspots such as staircase, refuse rooms, and roadsides to refrain people from illegal dumping.

Will the Scheme Work?

In this regard, MSW Charging, coupled with the banning of single-use plastics tableware in 2024, can be seen as transformative legislative measures taken by the Hong Kong government to address the long-standing environmental issues. The Municipal Waste Charging Scheme in Hong Kong represents a significant step in the city’s journey towards sustainable waste management. 

By encouraging waste reduction, promoting recycling, and shifting responsibility to waste producers, the scheme can address the pressing waste management challenges faced by the city. With effective implementation and continued public support, the scheme has the potential to transform Hong Kong into a greener, cleaner, and more environmentally conscious metropolis. Though Hong Kong is in its initial phase of the MSW Charging scheme, prior examples from other countries can be taken into account to ensure the successful implementation. 

In the heart of Hong Kong’s vibrant cityscape, where towering skyscrapers and bustling shopping streets define the daily rhythm of life, materialism and consumerism trends have become a norm. Our consumption choices have come at a huge cost to the environment and human society, contributing to climate change and other related environmental issues such as landfill waste and unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas emission. According to Greenpeace, Hongkongers discarded 110,000 tonnes of textiles to landfills in 2014, the equivalent of approximately 1,400 t-shirts per minute. Did you know that it takes over 20,000 litres of water to produce one kilogramme of cotton, which is equivalent to one t-shirt and one pair of jeans? In this article, we look at minimalism as a potential solution to alleviate the environmental burden arising from consumerism and as a way to encourage consumers to make more sustainable choices.

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The Minimalist Lifestyle

The central philosophy of minimalism underlines the concept of “less is more.” In other words, being a “minimalist” means possessing fewer items, living a simpler life while having minimal impacts on the environment. Though the original concept of minimalism dates back to the ancient Greek idea of simple living and avoiding excessive material wealth that causes unnecessary waste, the modern minimalist lifestyle that we come to know about has its roots in the 20th century, emerging from artists like Donald Judd and Dan Flavin. 

More importantly, books like The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Sasaki, and Danshari: Shin Katazukejutsu by Yamashita popularised this philosophy. The three kanji characters “断捨離” can be read as  “Dan-sha-ri” and translate to refusal, disposal, and separation, respectively. This concept encourages individuals to shed old habits, reduce the desire for new items, eliminate attachments, and prioritise personal needs. According to an article published in The Japan Times (2011), this term gained popularity in Japan in 2010 and has since spread globally. An article published in the Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (2023) argues the aforementioned social movements have laid the groundwork for minimalism, which has evolved into the minimalist lifestyle we know today.

Nowadays, minimalism refers to a lifestyle that prioritises the quality of life while emphasising environmental sustainability. For example, a minimalist practices careful consideration, avoids overconsumption and waste of resources from purchasing to disposal decisions. This way of life values sustainable living, often with the goal of conserving the Earth and eliminating unnecessary waste in society. This simplified way of living can help an individual achieve a sense of tranquillity and take up environmentally friendly initiatives. 

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Hong Kong Consumerism and Its Environmental Impact

Hong Kong is battling with several pressing environmental issues, from outdoor air pollution and plastic pollution to landfill waste and biodiversity loss. In recent years, the government has implemented a number of environmental regulatory frameworks to tackle these aggravating problems, including the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (APCO), Water Pollution Control Ordinance (WPCO), Waste Disposal Ordinance (WDO), and Producer Responsibility Schemes (PRS), and in 2021 has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. 

On a global level, in 2015, United Nations member states launched the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 17 goals that focus on improvement and longevity, from ending poverty to tackling climate change. However, according to a 2019 report by the UN Economic and Social Commission (ESCAP), Asia and the Pacific will not achieve any of these goals by 2030. 

“If there are environmental policies, why is it not enough to mitigate the climate crisis?” one might ponder. The answers lie in these data. 

Air Pollution

A paper published in the National Library of Medicine (2020) ranked “air pollution” as the fourth major risk factor for global disease and mortality, with a recent study suggesting that South Asia, home to four of the five most polluted countries in the world, accounts for more than half of the total life years lost globally due to air pollution. In this part of the world, experts estimate that polluted air cuts life expectancy by about five years. 

Meanwhile, another paper estimated that 12% of global deaths in 2019 was linked to outdoor and household air pollution. This goes to show that air pollution is not only a public health hazard but also a global threat that can have severe repercussions on human health and the environment. The public and the government must do more to address environmental issues.

More on the topic: Less Than 1% of Global Land Area Has Safe Air Pollution Levels: Study

In Hong Kong, air pollution is among the most pressing environmental issues. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) shows that areas such as Causeway Bay, Central, and Mong Kok, all exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines. 

According to a 2020 report by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the major types of chemicals released into the air were carbon monoxide, followed by nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds, and the major pollution sources were road transport, navigation and public electricity. In 2022, the total number of private cars registered in Hong Kong was 649,540, a significant increase of almost 32,000 from 2018, though it decreased from 2021 by nearly 7,500. 

Waste

Hong Kong has made headlines for its frenetic consumerism culture; the territory ranks high in 10 of 12 indicators signifying excessive materialistic possessions and an unhealthy dependence on shopping. As much glitz and glamour as fast fashion portrays, its environmental impact has been significant. 

According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Principal Economist Louis Chan (2022), the global fashion industry releases as much as 3.3 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, while the global value of discarded clothing has reached US$460 billion a year, of which only 13% can be recycled. This demonstrates that consumerism can be associated with poor waste disposal. 

A 2021 report by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department indicates that the total disposed quantity of solid waste in that year was 5.67 million tonnes, an average of 15,533 tonnes every day and an increase of 5.4% compared to 2020. Municipal waste consisting of domestic, commercial & industrial, construction and special wastes are disposed of at landfills, which hold properties toxic for humans and the environment.

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The Minimalism Edge: Streamline Your Life for Maximum Joy

Hong Kong resident and minimalist Nicole Ng told Earth.Org that she is mindful when shopping and chooses quality products even though sometimes it means paying a little extra. 

“Quality shopping is unquestionably the key to more sustainable, durable, and multifunctional products,” she said. 

As a plant enthusiast, she often purchases second-hand plants on platforms like Carousell, Instagram Shop, and Facebook Marketplace, and puts her own plants for sale as she believes it is a more environmentally friendly practice. 

“I came across a video on minimalism by Marie Kondo on Youtube as a university student,” she said when asked what influenced her to get into this lifestyle. “I realised it is much easier to adopt a minimalist lifestyle than I had expected after doing some research.” 

Now, Nicole embraces minimalism by decluttering her wardrobe and kitchenware on a seasonal basis. She said starting this lifestyle has improved her mental and physical health, besides increasing her awareness of the environmental impacts of consumerism, adding that having a clear mindset and setting goals help motivate her to stay on track and develop long-lasting habits.

Minimalism: A Sustainable and Healthy Choice

Minimalism encourages individuals to declutter their life by either donating or recycling responsibly. Being mindful about our own consumption habits can make us more conscious about material possessions and force us to buy less as well as to choose quality over quantity. It also encourages consumers to make environmentally conscious decisions, forcing them to ask themselves questions such as “Do I really need this?” and “What are the long-term benefits and environmental impacts of my consumption choices?” 

Pursuing a minimalist lifestyle helps lowering one’s carbon footprint, with benefits not just on an individual level but also on the surrounding environment.

Individuals who adopt a minimalist lifestyle are more likely to live a healthier lifestyle, improving their mental and physical health. A 2021 study carried out in the US found that minimalists feel fulfilled and respected while less likely to experience a feeling of depression. 

Another 2023 research conducted among 525 participants in China revealed that minimalism improves personal well-being in developing countries. Excessive possession, according to the study, does not lead to greater happiness but rather to increased stress and anxiety. 

While officially classified as a developing country, in recent decades, China has experienced the benefits of rapid economic growth. As ordinary Chinese people’s living circumstances improve, so does their need for high-quality goods. For instance, during the eight-day “Golden Week”, also known as the National Day or the October Holiday – a week-long holiday that takes place annually – the domestic tourism revenue reached 753.4 billion yuan (US$103 billion), up 1.5% from the comparable level in 2019. This is a great illustration of ordinary Chinese people’s ravenous appetite for shopping and consumption and how this is often directly linked to increased standard of living. 

Nonetheless, the study also stated that with economic progress and a declining birth rate, China may soon witness increasing acceptance of minimalism, as observed in several developed countries. 

In addition, reduced purchases save money on items that add no value to one’s life. In other words, consumers who adopt minimalism limit their spending and build up savings, which helps them achieve long-term goals that translate into more fulfilment and happiness. Hence, one aspect of minimalism is attaining financial well-being due to spending less, which leads to avoiding unnecessary debt and enhanced savings. Moreover, a 2023 finding in Pakistan shows that there is a positive relation between minimalism and financial well-being.

Criticism

Some critics claim that the minimalist lifestyle promotes new types of consumption, a desire to purchase multi-functional, energy-saving or wanting to renovate a home that resembles the typical minimal space. 

A 2016 article published in the New York Times Magazine explains that “minimalism is now synonymous with self-optimization, a trend that has also given rise to fitness devices and Soylent. This optimisation, which is frequently driven by technology, is costly and exclusively branded by and for the elite.” 

The author criticises the fact that a minimalist lifestyle will pressurise people to be obsessed over what to declutter and how many items one should own, raising concerns over the consequences of minimalism, such as what would happen if minimalists discarded too many goods at once. The article depicts the movement as arrogant and a trend for privileged people, arguing that being a minimalist requires social capital, a safety net, and access to the internet, something that not everyone possesses.

Final Thoughts

While these are valid concerns, it is undeniable that the minimalist lifestyle offers a transformative approach to living. By reevaluating consumerism, decluttering spaces, practising mindful consumption, and cultivating balance and well-being, individuals can find solace and purpose in the midst of the urban frenzy. 

While the above-mentioned environmental issues may affect Hongkongers’ quality of life as well as many aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, an adoption of this lifestyle offers a beacon of hope in mitigating climate change. 

Renowned chimpanzee researcher and activist Jane Goodall once said: “Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference.” 

Therefore, embracing minimalism in Hong Kong is not only a personal choice; it is a step towards creating a more sustainable, mindful, and fulfilling way of life in this vibrant city. So, let us embark on this journey of simplicity, embrace what truly matters, and rediscover the beauty of living with less in the midst of Hong Kong’s abundant offerings.

If you like to get started but don’t know where to start, you may follow these simple 5 steps.

1. Decluttering your environment and mind
2. Be mindful when purchasing 
3. Take advantage of digital platforms
4. Try recycling and reusing as much as possible
5. Form a habit to get organised

Learn more about minimalism: Guide to a Minimalist Lifestyle by Caroline Banton, Minimalism by James Clear, Beginner’s Guide to Minimalism | Do You Have The Right Mindset? by Malama Life on Youtube.

Featured image: Sumaid pal Singh Bakshi/Unsplash

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Newsom’s trip comes at a moment of rising tensions between the US and China over human rights, trade, Taiwan, and international conflicts. 

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California Governor Gavin Newsom kicked off his weeklong trip to China with a visit to the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on Monday, where he praised his state’s efforts in combating climate change and highlighted the importance of collaboration and partnerships with other countries.

In a fireside chat with HKU vice-president Gong Peng, Newsom repeatedly commended China’s efforts in green technology development, particularly in the electric vehicles sector and renewable energy, as well as Hong Kong’s carbon footprint disclosure, saying the purpose of his trip is not to preach but “to steal good ideas.”

Similar to California, Hong Kong is at the forefront of the climate crisis. Just last month, the city witnessed its highest recorded hourly rainfall since 1884, resulting in flash flooding that caused injuries to over 100 residents and brought the city to a standstill.

Addressing an audience of faculty members, students, and private sector leaders, Governor Newsom discussed the harsh realities of climate change faced by both Hong Kong and California, highlighting their proactive approaches in tackling the climate crisis. California, a fossil fuel-state and currently the world’s fifth-largest economy, is at the forefront of climate change, being often hit by devastating wildfires and notorious for having some of the highest levels of air pollution in the country, which threaten the well-being of its 40 million residents and entire ecosystems.

Under Newsom’s leadership, the state unveiled an ambitious roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, and several stringent laws passed in recent years and aimed at improving air quality in the state, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting green innovation helped position California as a leading model for climate change action.

“We’re the temple of the US economy in terms of jobs, of innovation … We pride ourselves on being on the leading and cutting edge of new ideas,” said Newsom, who repeatedly highlighted that the state boasts more than a half-million green jobs and has six times more clean jobs than fossil fuel jobs.

In August 2022, California became the first jurisdiction in the country to ban the sale of gas-powered cars in the state by 2035. The move sparked a race to enact similar legislation in other US states, such as New York, explained Newsom. “We’re moving markets nationally and globally. That’s an example of California punching above its weight,” he said.

When signing the law, governor acknowledged some of the criticism he faced when he first proposed the ban three years ago, including the still prohibitive prices of electric vehicles as well as a rather small charging station network. Nevertheless, since passing the ban, California has made great strides to support the transition to green vehicles, expanding infrastructure to about 93,000 operating charging stations, and recently hitting 27% share of zero-emission vehicles sold in the state, according to Newsom.

This, he said, is an example of how the state is supporting the private sector. “Policies are an accelerator, the private sector is now coming in. The market is starting to recognise opportunities.”

More recently, Newsom enacted two far-reaching climate laws, one requiring the more than 5,300 billion-dollar businesses in the state – including Apple, Walmart, Chevron, and Google – to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions publicly, and one requiring the more than 10,000 California-based companies making $500 million a year or more to report their climate-related financial risks. 

Climate reporting is nothing new in the US. Last year, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) advanced a proposal requiring all US-listed companies to disclose and report their climate-related risks and greenhouse gas emissions as part of President Joe Biden’s ambitious decarbonisation efforts.

However, California’s law is far-reaching, as it requires big companies to not only measure their direct emissions but also so-called scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, indirect emissions from an organisation which include products a company buys from third parties, the carbon dioxide output from business travel and employees commuting to work, and the emissions generated from shipping and using the company’s goods. Similar requirements are in place in the European Union, an indisputable leader in climate action.

Newsom’s stop-over in Hong Kong was heavily criticised by US-based pro-democracy and human rights organisations, which issued a joint statement last week arguing that the Governor’s singular focus on climate issues “sets a problematic tone for future diplomatic engagement” that benefits the territory’s sanctioned leaders.

Over the next six days, Newsom and his delegation will travel to Beijing, Shanghai, and the provinces of Jiangsu and Guangdong, where he is expected to meet with regional leaders and businesses to advance climate collaboration and visit manufacturing facilities such as an offshore wind plants in Jiangsu in the hope to to advance climate collaboration and speed up the state’s adoption of renewable energy.

“We must radically change the way we produce and consume energy, and it won’t be enough if we act alone. This is a global crisis and it requires a global response,” Newsom said in a statement ahead of his trip. “The long-standing partnership – and competition – between California and China has led to measurable progress: electrification of ports, cleaning our air of smog and pollution, and innovating new technologies that build economies. This visit is an opportunity to share our successes, learn from one another and continue driving an ambitious climate agenda.”

Featured image: Office of the Governor of California/Flickr

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This weekly round-up brings you key climate news from the past seven days, including a report indicating that summer 20233 was the hottest ever recorded globally and a new study on the economic cost of invasive species.

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1. Summer 2023 Was the Hottest on Record Globally by a ‘Large Margin’, Scientists Say

Summer 2023 was the warmest on record globally by a “large margin,” the European Union’s Earth observation agency confirmed on Wednesday.

The average global temperature between June and August was 16.77C (62.18F), 0.66C above the 1990-2020 average. In Europe – the world’s fastest-warming continent, warming twice as fast as any other continent – temperatures were 0.83C above average at around 19.63C (67.33F), according to the analysis published Wednesday by the EU’s Climate Change Copernicus Service.

Extreme temperatures did not only affect people around the world but also marine ecosystems, as sea and ocean temperatures reached their warmest surface temperatures on record. August as a whole saw the highest global monthly average sea surface temperatures ever recorded across all months, while daily temperature records were broken every day from July 31 to August 31, according to Copernicus data.

Read more here.

2. Invasive Species Cost Global Economy $423bn Each Year, Threaten Ecosystems and Food Security: Report

More than 3,500 invasive species introduced by human activities to regions and biomes worldwide pose a serious threat to human health, food security, and biodiversity, costing the global economy $423 billion each year, new research suggests.

The new analysis, published Monday by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the leading UN body on biodiversity and conservation, said that of the at least 37,000 alien species established worldwide, more than 3,500 pose huge threats to humans and ecosystems worldwide, impacting especially communities with the greatest direct dependence on nature, such as Indigenous Peoples. These include 1,061 plants, 1,852 invertebrates, 461 vertebrates, and 141 microbes.

Invasive species are non-native organisms – such as animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms – that grow and spread quickly, endangering native organisms, ecosystems, and human health. They can manifest as destructive crop or forest pests, for example, destroying native plants and animals. Invasive mosquitos can spread diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, Zika, and West Nile, endangering human health. In Guam, an island in the South Pacific, Brown tree snakes, which were accidentally brought there in the late 1940s or early 1950s, are responsible for the extinction of nine of the island’s 11 forest-dwelling bird species.

Read more here.

3. Marine Dredging Industry Digs Up Sand at ‘Alarming’ Rate, Threatening Biodiversity and Coastal Communities: UN Report

Between 4 and 8 billion tons of sand and other sediments are extracted from the marine environment each year, posing a significant threat to biodiversity and coastal communities, the UN’s global data platform monitoring the marine dredging industry revealed on Tuesday.

The Marine Sand Watch, a platform designed by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and GRID-Geneva to monitor large vessels engaged in dredging activities in the marine environment, warned that the scale of dredging is growing at an “alarming” rate, well beyond the rate at which it is being replenished from rivers. Sand is necessary to maintain the structure and function of coastal and marine ecosystems.

Hotspots for sand dredging around the world include the North Sea, the US East Coast, and Southeast Asia, though some Southeast Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia have banned marine sand exports in the last two decades. China, the US, as well as the Netherlands and Belgium have some of the world’s most active and advanced dredging industries.

Read more here.

4. Heaviest Rain in at Least 140 Years Batters Hong Kong as Climate Crisis Intensifies

Hong Kong woke up to submerged streets, shops, and metro stations, as torrential rain deluged the city in the early hours of Friday, prompting authorities to shut schools and businesses and suspend several transport services.

Between 11 pm HKT on Thursday and midnight on Friday (1500 to 1600 GMT on Thursday), the city recorded 158.1 mm of rain, the highest hourly rainfall since records began in 1884, prompting the city’s weather bureau to issue the highest “black” rainstorm warning. During the night, the city’s leader Chief Executive John Lee instructed a number of departments – including the Drainage Services and the Highways Department – to “respond with all-out efforts.”

According to the Hong Kong Weather Observatory (HKO), the torrential rain was brought by the “trough of low pressure associated with the remnant of [Typhoon] Haikui,” which left a trail of destruction in Taiwan before making landfall in China’s Fujian province earlier this week.

Read more here.

Hongkongers woke up to submerged streets, shopping malls, and metro stations on Friday following record-breaking rainfall that prompted local authorities to shut schools and businesses. Last month, local scientists warned that Hong Kong will experience heavier and more frequent extreme weather events in the future as the climate crisis deteriorates.

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Record-Breaking Rain Batters Hong Kong

Hong Kong woke up to submerged streets, shops, and metro stations, as torrential rain deluged the city in the early hours of Friday, prompting authorities to shut schools and businesses and suspend several transport services.

Between 11 pm HKT on Thursday and midnight on Friday (1500 to 1600 GMT on Thursday), the city recorded 158.1 mm of rain, the highest hourly rainfall since records began in 1884, prompting the city’s weather bureau to issue the highest “black” rainstorm warning. During the night, the city’s leader Chief Executive John Lee instructed a number of departments – including the Drainage Services and the Highways Department – to “respond with all-out efforts.” 

According to the Hong Kong Weather Observatory (HKO), the torrential rain was brought by the “trough of low pressure associated with the remnant of [Typhoon] Haikui,” which left a trail of destruction in Taiwan before making landfall in China’s Fujian province earlier this week.

Hong Kong was hit by widespread flooding on Friday as record-breaking rain paralysed the city. The Observatory recorded the highest one-hour rainfall since records began in 1884. Full story: https://t.co/xgbtoreVGt pic.twitter.com/ag0wuo65Rc

— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) September 8, 2023

As heavy rain began in the densely populated city of 7.5 million, the government also warned that “there may be a risk of flooding” in its northern New Territories district, as the neighbouring city of Shenzhen in Mainland China announced it would release water from a reservoir from midnight on Friday, giving Hong Kong authorities only 16 minutes notice.

“There may be a risk of flooding in some parts of the New Territories. Various government departments, including District Office (North), Drainage Services, Police, Fire Services, Water Supplies, and Social Welfare have been informed in order that they can take any necessary measures,” the government said in a press release.

The city’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) announced that it would partially suspend service on one of its lines after the Wong Tai Sin district’s station was flooded, as videos circulating on social media show.

🇭🇰🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️

Wong Tai Sin Station.

Shared many, many times online. https://t.co/LzzrEla1XV pic.twitter.com/FEHFH1Ic9f

— Aaron Busch (@tripperhead) September 7, 2023

As of 8 am on Friday, the Geotechnical Engineering Office (GEO) had received seven landslide reports, six on Hong Kong Island and one in the New Territories.

Hong Kong’s Changing Climate 

The record-breaking rainfall came just a week after Super Typhoon Saola paralysed Hong Kong, as authorities issued Hurricane Signal No. 10 – the city’s highest storm signal – for the first time since 2018. Despite hundreds of reports of fallen trees and widespread flooding, no casualties were reported.

Last month, local scientists warned that climate change will bring more frequent and intense extreme weather events to the city, including supercharged typhoons and prolonged drought as the climate crisis intensifies.

Recent reports show that global warming is already affecting the city. In a statement released on Monday, HKO said that last month was the warmest August ever recorded, adding that this summer was also hong Kong’s hottest since records began in 1884. The Observatory attributed last month’s record-breaking temperatures to the “warmer than normal sea surface temperature over the northern part of the South China Sea and a stronger than usual southwesterly flow in the lower atmosphere over the south China coast.”

“The monthly mean temperature of 29.7 degrees and monthly mean minimum temperature of 27.8 degrees were respectively 1.0 degree and 1.1 degrees above their normal levels, and both were the highest on record for August,” the statement reads.

Besides rising temperatures, scientists warn that Hong Kong will also experience climate change through rising sea levels. According to a 2021 analysis by the city’s weather bureau, under the very high greenhouse gas emissions scenario, Hong Kong’s sea level is set to rise anywhere between 0.57 – 1.08 metres by the end of the current century. On average, the mean sea level at Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour rose at a rate of 32 mm per decade during 1954-2022. 

Annual mean sea level at Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong (1954-2022). Image: HKO.

This is particularly worrying for a densely populated coastal city like Hong Kong. Soaring sea levels have great potential to wreak havoc among low-lying and coastal areas, threatening the livelihoods of nearby citizens through intense floods.

Featured image: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

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Last month, the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) launched the Community ESG Programme, encouraging citizens to play their part in Hong Kong’s decarbonisation efforts by adopting sustainable practices, from cutting their plastic consumption and saving electricity to opting for cleaner modes of transportation to get around. Their progress and efforts will be monitored through the new mobile app Zero2.

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In July 2023, the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) launched the Community ESG Programme along with the mobile app Zero2 as part of a series of activities under the theme of “Creating Homes for Sustainable Living.” Hong Kong’s residents can now participate in decarbonisation efforts by completing missions on the app, which allows them to access exclusive rewards and discounts at selected eateries and shops.

The new Community ESG Programme, which saw over 10,000 Hong Kong residents registering online in the months leading up to its release, takes place from 1 July to 31 December 2023 and involves more than 20 housing units located across the city. About 100 guests – including members of the HKHS and the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development – attended last month’s launching ceremony of the Community ESG Programme and new app at Prosperous Garden in Yau Ma Tei.

Walter Chan, the Chairman of HKHS, said the main goal was “to bring together the community and encourage the residents and staff of HKHS to develop green and healthy living habits.” 

Hong Kong is striving to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Using its 2005 carbon emissions level as a base, the city also aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% before 2035. 

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An App to Incentivise Sustainable Practices Among Hong Kong Residents 

Citizens will be able to participate in the programme through the new Zero2 mobile app. 

Users will be asked to join a community by entering their estate name. Each estate will be assigned specific tasks that its residents will have to complete before being allowed to move to the next level. By joining the community function on the app, users can also collaborate with their neighbours to complete different missions. Most assignments can be completed within two weeks, though tasks such as reducing gas and electricity bills might take a month or more.

By completing missions and playing educational games on the mobile app, users collect coins that can be used to redeem various rewards, including discounts and gifts from several partner merchants as well as points that can be used to level up the user’s account and unlock new missions. 

Image: Zero2 app/screenshot.

Missions are divided into categories, including Recycling, Green Dining, Upload Utility Bills, and Walking. There are also games that educate on carbon reduction.

Tasks in the Recycling category include recycling items such as used clothing, plastic and glass bottles, as well as aluminium cans. Residents are invited to dispose of their items in recycling booths, which are made available at the rental estates, scan the mission’s QR code, and place their items on the scale for weighing. 

According to Zero2’s Carbon Savings Calculation Methodology, the amount of each recycled material earns different amounts of coins. The table also shows the total carbon emissions that have been saved by recycling each material. The app will keep track of the total amount recycled by each user.

As for the Green Dining category, users can earn points every time they bring their own reusable bag to grocery stores and retail shops and their own cups and cutlery when ordering takeaway food.

For other missions such as reducing utility bills, the Zero2 app will compare the user’s energy consumption with the benchmark against the targets of Hong Kong’s 2050 Climate Action Plan. Users are required to upload their bills onto the app or submit a hard copy before the deadline in order to complete the mission. After verification, they will be rewarded with coins. 

Image: Zero2 app/screenshot.

Hong Kong’s Strategies to Reach Carbon Neutrality 

Hong Kong’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 amounted to 34.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, after remaining stable at around 42 million tonnes between 2015 and 2019 and dropping to 31.5 million tonnes in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Electricity generation accounted for the largest part of emissions – nearly 63%, followed by transportation (18.7%) and waste management (8.4%). 

In January 2023, the Environment and Ecology Bureau of Hong Kong (EEB) set up the Office of Climate Change and Carbon Neutrality in an attempt to make vigorous efforts to speed up carbon reduction. However, it is too early to assess its efficacy. In terms of finance, the government also put an additional funding of HK$200 million (US$25 million) into the Green Tech Fund, doubling the original provision.

The HKHS has worked with the Environmental Protection Department to develop the programme in a bid to increase the participation of Hongkongers in decarbonisation efforts as well as promote sustainable development in the city. The Chairman of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, Dr Lam Ching-Choi, said that the citizen’s proactive participation is essential for Hong Kong to achieve its decarbonisation goal. 

The HKHS adopted several energy-efficient design strategies to reduce the cooling and lighting demand in its residential buildings and has also worked to reduce Hong Kong’s greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by providing charging stations in its carparks to promote the use of electric vehicles.

A Good First Step, But Is It Enough?

Overall, the HKHS’ new ESG Programme is a good initiative to increase Hongkongers’ participation in carbon reduction efforts and raise awareness about sustainable living practices among the population. Indeed, while the government plays a crucial role in lowering the city’s carbon emissions through its efforts in promoting renewable energy sources, residents should also play their part. By getting educated about environmental issues and the potential environmental impact of their daily actions, they have the potential to push large authority figures and policymakers to take action. 

Nevertheless, the new initiative comes with their fair share of limitations, mostly because they target just a small fraction of the population. As of right now, the HKHS’ programme involved just 20 housing units for a total of about 30,000 HKHS flats across the city. This accounts for a very small percentage of Hong Kong’s population of 7.3 million. In order to make the programme more, the HKHS should consider expanding it to more residential areas. 

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Would Hongkongers entertain the idea of a bike-friendly Hong Kong? A couple of years ago, one writer opined that it would be “unlikely.” This is not an unjustified conclusion given that Hong Kong’s narrow roads and congested car lanes leave little space for bike lanes. Added to that, cyclists would have to navigate through hazardous traffic while inhaling exhaust fumes. Furthermore, the convenience and efficiency of Hong Kong’s public transport system make the prospect of biking less appealing. In part two of our two-part series on Hong Kong’s bike-friendliness, Curtis Lam takes a look at the legitimacy of concerns over promoting the use of bicycles and explores how well Hong Kong is positioned to alleviate them.

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Bike-friendliness refers to practices, policies, infrastructures and cultures that promote safe and effective cycling as a mode of daily transportation. It focuses on the overall traffic conditions, facilities, networks and systems that allow cyclists to commute safely alongside other forms of transportation like cars, buses, trams, and trucks.

Since Covid-19, governments have been rethinking their approaches to urban design. Consequently, about 400 cities, states and countries have reallocated spaces for people to cycle and walk more easily, efficiently and safely. Today, this shift is still happening. This is largely due to the realisation of well-evidenced benefits of bike-friendliness for cities, the nature of which can be broadly divided into four different categories: Health benefits, ecological benefits, spatial and mobility benefits, and finally, economic benefits.

Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the case for bike-friendliness, there still appears to be reluctance to fully embrace its implications on Hong Kong’s roads. Ranking 84th out of 90 cities on “bike-friendliness”, it is clear that it is not really on the government’s agenda for Hong Kong to embrace cycling even as a legitimate mode of transportation. Of course, there are factors that are beyond its control (like weather) but that is arguably only a small part of the equation.

Hongkongers are probably just as uninterested in the idea of cycling becoming a mode of transport but this might not necessarily be due to doubts about the credibility or validity of the evidence on bike-friendliness (given continued interest in cycling as a recreational activity in Hong Kong) but rather reservations about the generalisability of such findings to Hong Kong. They may apply to Europe, the US and other parts of Asia, but will they apply here?

Fair or Not? Hong Kong’s Aversion Toward Bikes

A number of questions have been raised about the utility of bike-friendly infrastructures in Hong Kong. While they are not entirely wrong, it is important to examine carefully what the underlying concerns are and whether those concerns are immovable obstacles or inconveniences that can be remedied. Here, we will try to break down some myths surrounding the (in)feasibility of bike-friendliness in Hong Kong.

1. Hong Kong is too hilly for daily cycling

Most experts suggest that an uphill gradient acceptable for bicycle use should be below 3%. Yet, Hong Kong is known for its extremely mountainous topography. While that may be true, it is arguably only true to a certain extent.

The first (and more obvious) solution to that would be to incentivise the use of e-bikes. Taking up a significant share of the heavy work involved in cycling, e-bikes have been “game-changers” in various parts of Europe, particularly for “less sporty people” and “senior citizens”. Today, e-bikes are banned from most roads in Hong Kong, but with the Transport Department’s recent green light for e-bikes and e-scooters in two areas – Tseung Kwan O and Pak Shek Kok – it seems that the support for their use is growing, both in public and policy circles.

Mechanical elevation systems are another way forward and are used all over Europe and also in parts of South Korea and Japan, despite being notoriously expensive to construct and maintain. Given how much space they take up, there is also literally no room for them in Hong Kong. Despite this downside, they should not necessarily be ruled out if cycling indeed becomes popular in Hong Kong.

There is still at least one more option. In many hilly cities like Lisbon, Brussels, Madrid, and Berlin, apps have been developed to plan and calculate for cyclists the flattest routes possible and thus facilitate cyclists’ navigation experience. Such apps would be very relevant in Hong Kong, and there would be little difficulty introducing them to the city’s roads.

In fact, while Hong Kong’s hilly terrain is no joke, most of the city’s developed areas – 25% of which is the result of reclamation projects – are flat land. In other words, most of the urban areas that Hongkongers use on a day-to-day basis are suitable for cycling. The challenge is whether they can be made bike-friendly.

2. Hong Kong’s roads are too narrow

Given the limited road space Hong Kong is already suffering from, how are we meant to create additional cycling lanes in Hong Kong?

Cycling lanes need not always be “carved out” of roads and pavements do not necessarily need to be “eaten away” to make space for them. For example, bus lanes can be converted into bus-and-bike lanes while simultaneously acting as buffer zones to help maintain traffic flow. This is a very common urban planning strategy in parts of the UK, especially when there are only two lanes.

The concern about narrow roads is not always about the narrowness of the roads themselves. In some parts of the New Territories, cyclists can simply cycle with cars on the same lane. Rather, it is often the speed of the traffic that matters, as it affects the degree to which cyclists are comfortable turning into a busy road or cutting lanes. This is why adjustments to speed limits are often implemented, and they have indeed done great wonders for cyclists, even when there are no dedicated bike lanes. 

Speed adjustments are not new to Hong Kong. Streets near school zones, residential areas, or hospitals have always been subject to such arrangements for the benefit of road users.

James Ockenden, founder and editor of Transit Jam, a local newspaper dedicated to promoting clean, liveable streets and safe traffic in Hong Kong, argues that the problem is not that roads are too narrow but rather that a lot of our road spaces have been taken away by illegal parking. It is obstruction, rather than narrowness, therefore, that makes cycling such an unattractive option in Hong Kong, Ockenden argues. If such inconsiderate behaviour can be properly discouraged and reduced, Hong Kong’s lanes can indeed accommodate bikes.

Engineer Ranty Highwayman wrote on Twitter: “The street is not too narrow, [our] imagination is.”

3. Hong Kong’s poor air quality and weather deters anyone from wanting to cycle in urban areas

It is commonly argued that cycling to work can free individuals “from the confines of germ-infused buses and trains.” However, Hong Kong’s roads are just as detrimental to our lungs. Being a pedestrian is tough enough; imagine being stuck in traffic without anything to protect you the fumes. This is compounded by the fact that Hong Kong’s hot summers and unpredictable rainfall patterns make cycling a precarious mode of transport.

Researchers have admitted this caveat in the past. One study showed that cycling can increase travellers’ exposure to air pollutants (e.g. road dust, exhaust fumes), while another analysis demonstrated that, as cycling is an active form of transport, higher breathing rates (compared to walking or motorcycling) further increase the inhaled concentration of such harmful particles. Surely the cycling experience in Hong Kong would be just as bleak. However, all is not lost. 

Both studies caution urban planners against simplistic solutions like encouraging cyclists to avoid peak hour travel (which is not enough since pollutants do not just disappear with traffic and are usually suspended in those areas even after peak hours), though they agree that there are simple measures that can help mitigate their effects. One example would be to put more effort into cleaning the roads, such as increasing the frequency of wet sweeping.

In the long run, intelligent design is what makes things possible. For example, bike lanes can be separated from main routes by “green belts” composed of specialised plants to limit dust resuspension. This is not only beneficial for air quality but also for cyclist safety.

Unfortunately, there is no perfect way to protect one against unpredictable rainfall and high temperatures in Hong Kong – and nobody would want to go into an office drenched in sweat or rain. This is why advocates of bike-friendliness know that cars and other forms of public transport are indispensable. However, it really only takes a minute to check the weather conditions to see whether cycling is fine for the day – if not, then the bus is always an option.

Very often, riding a bike creates a natural breeze, even during hot summers. When paired with the right clothing (e.g. bike clothing and raincoats) and accessories (e.g. phone mounts and bike umbrellas), cycling can be a lot more bearable than it seems.

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4. Hong Kong’s existing public transport system is already very well-developed

Hong Kong’s public transport infrastructure is commonly regarded as one of the best in the world. This also raises the question of whether it is cost-effective to create additional infrastructure to support harbour crossing for cycles, which would come with significant construction costs.

There are two main responses to these claims. Firstly, the fact that Hong Kong’s transport systems are advanced and efficient does not necessarily mean they cannot be improved. Both the congestion that drivers experience and the serious overcrowding on public transport (like the MTR) on a daily basis remain serious problems. 

Bike-friendly road designs are one of the many possible solutions available. Cycling offers a range of flexibility benefits. For example, cyclists can manoeuvre through traffic like motorcyclists or switch to walking when necessary, unlike tram or bus passengers who must wait indoors. In situations where cycling alone is not possible, commuters can still rely on bicycles to cover the first or last mile to and from transit stations, like bus stops or MTR stations.

Secondly, even if, after careful assessment, policymakers decide that the construction of overhead cycleways, bike bridges, and tunnels to connect both sides of the harbour is too costly both economically and environmentally, it does not render cycling irrelevant.

Dr. Winnie Tang, professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), notes that “over half of Hong Kong Island residents (nearly 360,000 people) work on the island, and one-sixth of employees in Hong Kong work in the same district where they reside.” This means that, even without cross-harbour biking infrastructure in place, many Hongkongers may still benefit from cycling.

Urban planners do not have to worry about low bike lane usage rates in Hong Kong. On the topic of cycling infrastructure in Europe, Veronica Penney, climate reporter for the New York Times, wrote: “If you build it, they will bike.” A nice-sounding slogan that is also properly backed up by research. One study conducted by the City University of Hong Kong showed that the presence of cycling paths and facilities is positively associated with both commuting cycling and general cycling. In Hong Kong, the new Tseung Kwan O Cross Bay Link is a perfect illustration of this point.

Adding bike-friendly infrastructure does not imply the need to do away with Hong Kong’s existing public transport systems. Instead, its purpose would be to help alleviate the immense burdens currently placed on public transport by providing an extra mobility option for individuals who want to and can afford to have a bit more flexibility in their travels.

5. Hongkongers have no patience for other road users, let alone cyclists

The numbers palpably testify to this exclusion: Between 1998 and 2017, Hong Kong saw an average annual increase rate in cycling injuries of 5.18%, and by 2017, cyclists were more than two times more likely to be involved in traffic crashes than in 1998. 

Compared to other regions, Hong Kong has one of the highest fatality rates for cycling. Road users are just not well enough educated on how to interact safely with cyclists. Similarly, cyclists who are not so familiar with road usage guidelines might indeed pose a threat to drivers, for example, if they do not know how to signal turns or when they intend to slow down.

Our road systems have been primarily designed to cater to motor vehicles, which has resulted in drivers feeling a sense of entitlement to “own” the road. Unfortunately, this has led to a perception among some that cyclists are intruders rather than legitimate users of public roads, despite the government explicitly acknowledging that “a cycle is regarded as a vehicle.” Consequently, cyclists are frequently expected to yield to drivers, and their safety is often overlooked.

While Hong Kong’s entrenched “bike-averse” culture and bad driving habits may be the hardest to tackle out of all the concerns mentioned thus far, how do we get a whole city to relearn her transport culture? Road safety campaigns have always been here, but how can they be more effective?

It is often said that meaningful and genuine transformation of culture must occur before structures can be changed. However, cultural shifts can also occur as a result of behavioural shifts. This can be achieved by “manipulating” driver biases through micro-adjustments to the way roads are viewed and used, which gradually re-engineer the attitudes and tendencies of road users. For instance, painting eye-catching markings such as zigzag lines at junctions that progressively get narrower to create the illusion of speeding up can prompt drivers to slow down and resist the temptation to run red or amber lights. Such effects have been shown to persist over time, even after the markings are removed.

In fact, many of the desired outcomes can be achieved through simple measures such as adding road signs, changing road markings, implementing speed limits, adjusting traffic light timings, establishing part-time cycling zones (similar to pedestrian schemes), and, in some cases, converting two-way roads into one-way roads. These changes can be made without the need for large sums of money or the mobilisation of hordes of bulldozers or dump trucks to dig up and rebuild all of our roads from scratch.

Adding bike-friendly infrastructure would help alleviate the immense burdens currently placed on public transport by providing an extra mobility option for individuals who want to and can afford to have a bit more flexibility in their travels. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

Promoting Bicycle Urbanism: Just Like Making Friends

As writer Charlie Sorrel puts it: “Bike lanes don’t get really effective unless you build enough of them… Only when there are enough lanes that people can ditch their cars and start commuting by bike do things really change for the better.”

Just like making friends, bike-friendliness needs more than just surface-level popularity to truly take off. What is needed is not simply the popularisation of the idea of bike-friendliness but also a series of strategies and plans to back it up in order for the idea to truly gain proper momentum and crystallise. We can have thousands of followers on social media but we might only consider a select few of them as true friends, because they are the ones who know how to and can actually be there for us when we need them.

Addressing our misconceptions about bike-friendliness does not automatically provide a strong case for incorporating bike-friendly designs into our city, as there are many other concerns and counterarguments that can be made (in particular, ones pertaining to logistics) which are beyond the scope of discussion here. However, it is still possible to notice that some of our worries about cycling as a form of transportation in Hong Kong may have been overstated. Hopefully, this can be a way to revive the conversation about creating a more bike-friendly Hong Kong – it is always better to start somewhere than not at all.

This article is Part 2 of a two-part series on Hong Kong’s bike-friendliness. Check out Part 1: Hong Kong Is Missing Out on ‘Bike-Friendliness’