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Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (June 21) :
Question:
In reply to a question raised in this Council on the 24th of last month, the authorities advised that on the basis of the air quality and population data of 2000, the economic losses caused by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases possibly related to air pollution were estimated to reach $1.7 billion each year. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:
(a) how the losses were computed;
(b) of the respective numbers of persons who suffered from or died of diseases related to air pollution each year since 2000, and the amount of healthcare expenditure incurred as a result; and
(c) whether the authorities will regularly publish the figures in (b) above?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) In its written reply to LegCo Question No. 19 on May 24, 2006, the Government quoted the findings of a study on the correlation between air pollution in Hong Kong and its impact on health conducted by the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2002. On the basis of the air quality data of 2000 and the number of daily admissions and in-patients at 12 public hospitals under the Hospital Authority in that year, the study assessed, through regression analysis, the possible correlation between air pollution and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Hong Kong. It also estimated the economic losses (including consultation and hospitalization fees and the productivity loss incurred) possibly attributable to air pollution.
(b) The impact of air pollution on health is often indirect and long-term. Besides, most diseases are caused by a combination of factors. Therefore, it is impossible to determine directly from statistics on the diseases the number of the sick and deaths owing to air pollution and related healthcare expenses.
(c) As the data required in (b) are not available, the Government is not in a position to publish the figures regularly.
Ends/Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:25
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