圖書館烏煙瘴氣 康文署害人不淺

LCSD is harming people with its indifference to the appalling air quality in public libraries

港府早前公布「香港空氣清新藍圖」，承諾到二○二○年達至新空氣質素指標水平。但說是一回事，做是另一回事，全港多個公共圖書館被踢爆空氣質素不合格，二氧化碳及細菌含量嚴重超標，市民處身圖書館如吸毒氣，危害健康。見微知著，當局連圖書館空氣污染問題也治理無方，七年後要提升空氣質素水平，實在難以令人寄予厚望。

公共圖書館烏煙瘴氣，其實問題早已存在，只是負責管理的康文署一直懶理，直到年前審計署批評港府空談改善空氣質素，部門卻未有以身作則，積極參加當局推出的室內空氣質素檢定計劃，淪為眾矢之的的康文署才安排轄下六十多間圖書館分批檢測室內空氣質素，結果經機電工程署聘請顧問測試檢定，康文署轄下最少有七間公共圖書館空氣質素嚴重超標，令人擔心一旦進入流感高峰期，隨時出現交叉感染，成為播毒源頭。

事實上，公共圖書館及自修室一向是莘莘學子吸取知識及日常溫習功課的場所，近日踏入考試季節，學生人流更加密集，室內空氣質素只會更差，不止損害市民健康，而且間接影響萬千學子學業成績。康文署官僚敷衍塞責，名副其實誤人子弟，害人不淺。

By unveiling “A Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong”, the Government undertakes that new Air Quality Objectives will largely be achieved by 2020. However, the reality seems to be a far cry from the promise. It has been disclosed that many public libraries across the territory fail to meet air quality standards. As the levels of carbon dioxide and bacteria are alarmingly high, library users may find themselves actually inhaling toxic gas harmful to their health. This small clue is a harbinger. If the Government cannot even properly manage the air pollution in libraries, how can it be expected to raise the air quality in Hong Kong within 7 years?

In fact, the problem of foul atmosphere in public libraries has existed for a long time. It is just that the responsible body, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), has been disregarding it. A few years ago, the Audit Commission criticized the Government for not setting a good example despite its endless talks about improving air quality. Government departments have not taken part actively in the Indoor Air Quality Certification Scheme ever since its launch. After becoming a target of censure, the LCSD arranged for its 60-plus libraries to be inspected in batches for indoor air quality. With tests conducted by an Electrical and Mechanical Services Department consultant, the air quality of at least 7 public libraries was found to be seriously under par. If there were another outbreak of flu, one may worry that libraries would be turned into a source of pathogens and cross infection.

Public libraries and study rooms have always been the places where diligent students absorb knowledge and do homework. Since this is the examination season, more students would gather in libraries and the indoor air quality would only worsen, affecting not just their health, but also indirectly undermining their academic results. The perfunctory attitude of LCSD bureaucrats has indeed harmed the younger generation.

重要生字

a far cry 大不相同的東西

harbinger 預兆

foul atmosphere 烏煙瘴氣

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