Lights On Hong Kong

Mark Simon
Second Opinion
Next Magazine 2010-03-11

Green groups that support"Lights Out Hong Kong" have little regard for the economic impact on the people of Hong Kong.If they are at all serious about keeping our skies clear, they should engage China in discussions about exporting pollution to Hong Kong.

Driving home each night along Hong Kong's Eastern Corridor the spectacular night skyline is always a magnificent view. Except on the nights I can't see the skyline due to pollution.

Yet, it is this wonderful night skyline the World Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace, along with other environmental groups have identified as symbolic of Hong Kong's air pollution problem. As such, later this month we will be asked to turn off the lights for thirty minutes, including lights in our homes, in the fight against air pollution.

But rather than putting so much effort in the gimmick, i.e."Lights Out Hong Kong", might it be better to move away from feel good gestures and start dealing with the main source of our air pollution, China.

When the Japanese and Taiwanese complain about air pollution coming from China and winds from the north along with mainland holiday periods offer a respite for our lungs, haven't we come to the point where those peddling the story of Hong Kong creating its own air pollution can be doubted? China is the world's factory and pretending there is no smoke coming from that factory is a delusion.

The mere suggestion that the vast majority of air pollution flows south over our border from China is met by whispers of subversion by government and attempts at diversion by green groups.

Now, the Chinese are right that many in the West use the pollution argument to dampen China's competitiveness. Some of the biggest backers of pressure on China over environmental conditions are Western labor unions and the politicians dependent on those unions. The first envoy from the Obama administration to visit China was transition chief and strident labor union ally, John Podesta. His visit was focused solely on global warming and getting China to cut emissions, i.e., raising the cost of production in China.

But, Hong Kong is part of China, and our complaints about air pollution from the mainland are no more subversive than asking your taxi driver to stop smoking when you enter his cab. Many in government say things are getting better, I am not certain. But what would benefit the people on both sides of the border is if we started discussing the problem like it was one.

For Hong Kong's environmentalists, diverting attention from China is too self-serving to be explained away as simply being misguided. For the diversion away from China and focus on Hong Kong is driven by a fear of a loss of funding, a desire to be seen as having a solution, and more sinister, an ideology that is at odds with the success of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong business avoids controversy and any tension with China. The sheer number of large companies that have signed up for"Lights Out" is a sure sign this event is low on action and high on feel good.

Green groups also need to stay relevant in the eyes of their supporters. Make Hong Kong the issue and that market need is satisfied.

In addition to the obvious marketing rationale for diverting the air pollution issue to Hong Kong there is a deeper ideological problem the green movement has with Hong Kong, one that will not clear if our skies do.

Hong Kong is a city built on consumption, both our own, and those we export to. No city or business community could be in greater conflict with the core rationale of the green movement, which holds that consumption is the driver of all environmental degradation. By moral suasion, tax, regulation or restriction of trade, the green movement seeks to stifle consumption, which stifles Hong Kong.

Green groups that support"Lights Out Hong Kong" have little regard for the economic impact on the people of Hong Kong, which is obvious because they undertake an effort that is designed more to raise their fundraising profile rather than engage China in the serious discussions that will clear our skies.