政壇：睇社論學英文：健康指數束高閣 改善空氣枉做騷

本港空氣污染嚴重，一向為人詬病。香港科技大學及中文大學○八年起合作研發「空氣質素健康指數」，二○一○年完成研究及向環保署提交報告。該項指數將空氣污染劃分為一至十級以上的風險級別，數字愈大，代表健康風險愈高，具有容易理解、可操作性強等優點，加上該項指數每三小時公布一次，可讓公眾及時採取相應行動，必要時停止戶外工作，彌補傳統空氣污染指數的不足。

既然健康指數明白易懂，為何當局到今時今日仍沒採用呢？有環保團體質疑，港府拒絕披露空氣污染對人體的健康風險，或涉及經濟考慮。本港空氣污染極嚴重，一旦實施健康指數，污染指標就會引發停工，當局擔心損害經濟利益，故不惜將其束之高閣。委託學術機構或顧問公司進行研究，結果合心意的便採用，不合心意的便擱置，是港府推卸責任的慣技，前朝曾蔭權政府無心改善空氣質素，藉委託大學研究拖延時間，絕不令人奇怪。

香港環保政策一塌糊塗，空氣污染日益嚴重，不僅損害市民健康，亦影響經濟發展及香港形象。新政府應盡快撥亂反正，切實改善空氣質素，首先應落實的就是「空氣質素健康指數」。

By shelving the Health Index, improving air quality is reduced to a show

Air pollution is so serious in Hong Kong that it has become an object of public denunciation. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and the Chinese University of Hong Kong collaborated to research on and develop the Air Quality Health index（AQHI） in 2008. The study was finished in 2010 and the report subsequently submitted to the Environmental Protection Department. The AQHI measures the air quality in relation to people's health on a scale from 1 to 10. The higher the number, the greater the health risk associated with the air quality. Advantages of the AQHI are that it is easy to understand and highly operable. As the AQHI readings would be updated every three hours, the public can take timely actions accordingly, such as stopping outdoor activities when necessary. The AQHI can compensate for the inadequacies of the conventional Air Pollution Index.

Since the AQHI is so clear and comprehensible, why hasn't the Government adopted it up to now? Some green groups suspect economic considerations behind the Government's refusal to disclose the health risk related to air pollution. As the air in Hong Kong is severely polluted, once the AQHI is implemented, some work would have to be suspended if air pollution exceeds a certain level. Fearing this may undermine the economy, the Government does not scruple to shelve it. Actually this is the Government's old trick of shirking its responsibility: commissioning academic institutions or consultancy firms to carry out studies, then adopting the finding if it is desirable, shelving it if otherwise. The former Donald Tsang administration lacked sincerity in improving air quality, so it was not surprising that commissioning university study was used as a delaying tactic.

Hong Kong's environmental protection policy is in a complete mess. The aggravating air pollution does not only damage people's health, but also impacts on the city's economic development and image. The new Government should restore things to order as soon as possible and improve air quality in real earnest. The top priority is the implementation of the AQHI.

重要生字

green group　環保團體

shelve　束之高閣

in a complete mess　一塌糊塗