In Hong Kong, the public is exposed to dangerously high level of roadside air pollution, which is far from meeting World Health Organization’s recommended safe level. It represents a strong health risk in relations to cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and especially to vulnerable groups, such as the children, elderly, chronic patients and the underprivileged.
Commercial vehicles, including our public road transport, contribute to over 90% of the roadside air pollution. One of the more successful solutions to address roadside air pollution, as demonstrated in other cities, is the transformation of bus fleet to Zero Exhaust Emission technology such as electric/hydrogen.
There were challenges, such as on technology adaptation to local landscape, the operation and financial model, etc, encountered by other cities during the process to adopt more clean buses. However, with adequate political will, these challenges should not be insurmountable.