HK green groups urging govt to tackle "light pollution"

Channel NewsAsia 14 Jun 08;

HONG KONG : Green groups in Hong Kong are urging the government to come up with new laws to deal with light pollution in the city.

Hong Kong is known as the "City of Lights".

However, the bright lights in the city are proving too much for some Hong Kong residents.

Environmental activist Hahn Chu Hon-Keung has found some extreme examples around busy shopping areas.

At one mall in Causeway Bay, the light meter reading is over 10,000 lux or light intensity.

Hanh Chu, who is Environment Affairs Manager of green group Friends of the Earth, said, "Do we need it so bright at night? Or put it another way, playing tennis at night, the court would be bright enough, but here it's three times the brightness."

Ever since the international airport was moved away from the city, lighting has become more ostentatious.

Advertisers and shops are keen to compete for eyeballs on the streets, and that means the brighter the lights, the better.

Hanh Chu said, "You can imagine what it's like living here, even just looking at it is disorientating enough. Just imagine if you're in a movie, being interrogated by the police and they're shining a bright light at you, it's uncomfortable."

In extreme cases, the light pollution has taken a toll on residents.

Hanh Chu himself has highlighted more than 10 cases last year, with some people having to seek psychiatric treatment or eventually having to move out.

Unfortunately, Hong Kong does not regulate the brightness of outdoor lighting.

And while it seems that Hong Kong residents are not likely to switch off the lights anytime soon, green group Friends of the Earth has won over some converts.

Hong Kong will be participating in a 20-nation "Lights Out" campaign on June 21, which will see part of the Hong Kong's famous skyline go dark for an hour.

More than 75 landmark buildings across Victoria Harbour have already signed up.

The message they are trying to get across is to use electricity in moderation to reduce greenhouse gases.

Hahn Chu said, "In the past 10 years, Hong Kong's population has increased 5 to 6 percent, but we're using over 10 percent more electricity. So that's a 100 percent increase. If we really understand lighting and want to lower power usage, Hong Kong can still be just as beautiful."

Friends of the Earth is encouraging anti-light pollution measures, including shading outdoor lighting, dimming lights after business hours, and reducing the use of spotlights. - CNA/ms