Hong Kong tackles pollution

Smog, a recurrent problem, was very bad during March

By Damian Grammaticas in Hong Kong

Hong Kong and its neighbouring province of Guangdong in China have launched a ground-breaking joint effort to tackle the region's serious environmental problems.

Among the issues they are attempting to deal with are air and water pollution, better conservation and controls on development.

The area of Hong Kong and southern China around the Pearl River delta has developed at a dizzying pace in the past decade or so.

The city has seen protests against pollution with residents wearing masks

Hundreds of businesses and factories have sprung up and the region's population has grown rapidly.

But the economic advances have come at a considerable cost to the environment.

Foul air is a particular problem.

Record levels were registered in March. For the entire month the air pollution index topped the 100 level - the threshold at which government experts advise people to stay indoors.

Rubbish on beaches

Cases of respiratory ailments in Hong Kong have shown a steady increase.

Oil spills and polluted waters have affected the area's dolphins

Tons of discarded rubbish collect in the waters of the Pearl River delta, washing up on the region's beaches.

It has reached the stage where there are fears that tourism and investment in the region will suffer.

So Hong Kong and Guangdong are combining their efforts to tackle the problems.

For the first time, authorities on both sides have met to map out a strategy to clean up the area's air and water, to preserve its remaining forests and to control new development.

It is all part of a growing recognition in Hong Kong that now it is part of China it must deal with the mainland to tackle issues of common interest.