Hong Kong Airport runway may cause pollution to exceed limit

Hong Kong International Airport's proposed HKD136 billion (USD17 billion) third runway may cause the level of pollutant nitrogen dioxide in the facility's vicinity to exceed the limit set by the city's government, according to a report by Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd, appointed by the Airport Authority Hong Kong to assess the potential effect of the runway on air quality (Bloomberg, 09-Aug-2011). Annual cumulative concentrations of the gas in the airport and nearby areas may range between 16.5 micrograms and 81.1 micrograms per cubic metre, according to the report. The government has proposed halving the legal limit for nitrogen dioxide in Hong Kong to 40 micrograms per cubic metre. The consultant's 2010 report was one of the eight posted on the authority's website on 08-Aug-2011 as it performs a three-month public consultation, which will end on 02-Sep-2011. Another report by HSBC Holdings Plc said rising construction costs may increase the authority's pre-financing cash shortfall.