Media

Communicating serious health hazards of Hong Kong air: A new version of the Hedley Environmental Index

13 Jan 2012

The primitive, misleading and outdated Air Pollution Index (HKAPI) adopted by the HKSAR government to communicate the health hazards of pollution to the public has been seriously criticized for bearing no relationship to the serious health risks faced by the people of Hong Kong. To provide the public with a more complete and reliable interpretation of real-time air pollution levels, using the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (AQG), The University of Hong Kong together with Civic Exchange will launch the new Hedley Environmental Index (HEI) at a press conference next Tuesday (January 17, 2012). The new Index is the latest evidence-based indicator of the considerable bad health outcomes and associated economic loss suffered by Hong Kong citizens.

Details of the press conference are listed as follows:

Date: January 17, 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Venue: Mrs Chen Yang Foo Oi Telemedicine Centre,
2/F, William MW Mong Block, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

Speakers:
Dr. LAI Hak-kan
Research Assistant Professor
School of Public Health
The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Dr. THACH Thuan-quoc
Honorary Assistant Professor
School of Public Health
The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Ms June CHAU
Senior Research Assistant
School of Public Health
The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Dr. WONG Chit-ming
Associate Professor
School of Public Health
The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Professor Sarah McGHEE
Professor
School of Public Health
The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Professor LAM Tai-hing
Sir Robert Kotewall Professor in Public Health
Director
School of Public Health
The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Professor Anthony J HEDLEY
Honorary Professor
School of Public Health
The University of Hong Kong Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine

Mr Mike KILBURN
Head of Environmental Strategy
Civic Exchange

A shuttle bus is arranged to pick up the press from Admiralty for the press conference. Members of the press please wait at the bus stop near Café de Coral of Admiralty Centre (Exit A of the Admiralty MTR Station). The bus will leave at 10:00 am sharp.