With HK's Knowledge, Guangdong Unilaterally Raises Smog Limits 158% - AFP

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Environmentalists reacted angrily Tuesday to claims that a southern Chinese province has balked on a pollution-busting agreement with neighbouring Hong Kong, dashing hopes of cutting chronic smog.

The deal, signed with Guangdong province in 2002, set caps on sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and soot emissions from power stations, factories and vehicle exhausts to be reached by 2010. However, a report in the South China Morning Post English-language daily citing a 2005 Guangdong environmetal protection plan, said that Guangdong had unilaterally -- and secretly -- raised the emissions caps by as much as 158 percent. The report said the Hong Kong government was aware of the change to the agreement.

Green groups said it raised serious doubts about the commitment of both governments to cutting worsening pollution in the region. "Everyone will suffer as a result of this single-handed change to the targets," said Cheng Luk-ki of Hong Kong environmental protest group Green Power. "It shows that Hong Kong is unable to influence Chinese policy and that Chinese economic growth is taking precedence over health and environmental protection," added Cheng.

Friends of the Earth Hong Kong said the revelations illustrated the lack of transparency in dealings with the Chinese authorities and accused leaders of "playing cat and mouse" with the environment. "How can you put blind faith into an honour system agreement whose only enforcement is a promise, not a rule or law?" asked FOEHK director May Ng. In a statement, the Hong Kong government said the recent figures from Guangdong were irrelevant to the emissions reduction agreement.

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http://www.terradaily.com/2006/060815101514.53e4ga13.html