Le-Min Lim and Sophie Leung Bloomberg Businessweek 25 May 10;
May 26 (Bloomberg) -- Singapore retained its ranking as the Asian city with the best quality of life, while Hong Kong lags rival financial hubs as it struggles with air pollution, according to a survey by Mercer Consulting.
Hong Kong’s Air Pollution Index reached a “very high” reading above 100 at one roadside monitoring station today, the third consecutive day for such a reading, according to the Environmental Protection Department website. The index was 110 in Mong Kok, while hitting “high” levels of 99 in the Central business district and 78 in the Causeway Bay shopping district as of 8 a.m. local time.
Very high readings trigger a Hong Kong government warning that people with heart or respiratory illnesses should avoid prolonged stays in heavy traffic areas.
“The government hasn’t done very much to introduce green measures or reduce pollution,” said Cathy Loose, a Tokyo-based Mercer officer who helped compile the list, in an interview. The list serves as a compensation guide for expatriate relocation.
Singapore ranks 28 among 221 cities, Tokyo is at 40 and Hong Kong is placed 71, the list shows. Hong Kong also trails New York City (No. 49), and smaller Japanese cities such as Kobe and Yokohama (tied for No. 41), Osaka (No. 51) and Nagoya (No. 57), the list shows. Hong Kong dropped one place from the 2009 because 10 other cities were included this year, while its score of about 94 points is little changed, Loose said.
Hardship Allowances
That leaves Hong Kong 5 points above the level at which Mercer says hardship allowances should be paid to workers who relocate. For cities including Beijing and Mumbai a 10 percent allowance is suggested, while an allowance of up to 28 percent is suggested for Phnom Penh.
Hong Kong government spokesmen didn’t answer calls seeking comment.
Cities are rated on 10 factors including infrastructure, political and social environments, and access to medical care. Hong Kong scored poorly on health concerns, said Loose.
Hong Kong’s air pollution was the worst on record during the past two quarters, sparking regular government health warnings. To address the problem, the government introduced a bill in April proposing a ban on idling engines among other steps.
Singapore lags Hong Kong only on measurements of personal freedom and media censorship, said Loose. Mercer is a unit of Marsh & McLennan Cos.
Hong Kong’s effort to cut pollution and protect the environment trails even that of Havana and ranks just above Damascus, the list shows. The city’s crowded living conditions also make it more susceptible to the spread of infectious diseases, Loose said.
Overall, Vienna retains the top spot as the world’s best city to live in.
--Editors: Dirk Beveridge, Stan James
