HK up, but let down by air pollution in quality of life survey
Source: Xinhua |
April 18, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HONG Kong is the third most livable city among 49 Asian cities for expat employees following Singapore and Kobe in Japan, according to a survey released yesterday.
However, Hong Kong's rise in the ranking - it came fifth last year - was not the result of any improvement in its quality of life.
"Unfortunately, it's been due to deterioration in the quality of living elsewhere," said Lee Quane, regional director, Asia, of ECA International, the British-based human resource consulting company that conducts the annual survey.
Quane said Hong Kong came third after overtaking Tokyo and Yokohama, which both dropped a place because of the inevitable fallout from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011.
Hong Kong still has a relatively good quality of life compared to other locations in Asia, Quane added.
The survey assesses the 49 Asian cities under 10 categories including climate, health risks, air pollution, goods and services, infrastructure, housing and education.
Shanghai in 12th place
Though ranking far below Hong Kong, scores among cities on the Chinese mainland remained steady.
Shanghai, in 12th place, was the most livable of mainland locations, followed by Beijing, Nanjing and Guangzhou.
Infrastructure, goods and services, and air pollution are among the areas where the Chinese cities should put more effort, the survey said.
Singapore hung on to the No. 1 spot with its good air quality, solid infrastructure and health care facilities, low crime and low health risks.
"Other cities are unlikely to take first place from Singapore in the near future," Quane said.
Compared with Singapore, Hong Kong, almost equally good in infrastructure, goods and services, and housing, is perceived to be more affected by natural disasters such as typhoons.
"But Hong Kong's main issue that really separates it from Singapore is its air pollution," Quane said. The city's air quality was among the least favorable, compared with places such as New Delhi and other developing locations that are prone to poor air quality. "This is where Hong Kong really fails," Quane said.
However, Hong Kong's rise in the ranking - it came fifth last year - was not the result of any improvement in its quality of life.
"Unfortunately, it's been due to deterioration in the quality of living elsewhere," said Lee Quane, regional director, Asia, of ECA International, the British-based human resource consulting company that conducts the annual survey.
Quane said Hong Kong came third after overtaking Tokyo and Yokohama, which both dropped a place because of the inevitable fallout from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011.
Hong Kong still has a relatively good quality of life compared to other locations in Asia, Quane added.
The survey assesses the 49 Asian cities under 10 categories including climate, health risks, air pollution, goods and services, infrastructure, housing and education.
Shanghai in 12th place
Though ranking far below Hong Kong, scores among cities on the Chinese mainland remained steady.
Shanghai, in 12th place, was the most livable of mainland locations, followed by Beijing, Nanjing and Guangzhou.
Infrastructure, goods and services, and air pollution are among the areas where the Chinese cities should put more effort, the survey said.
Singapore hung on to the No. 1 spot with its good air quality, solid infrastructure and health care facilities, low crime and low health risks.
"Other cities are unlikely to take first place from Singapore in the near future," Quane said.
Compared with Singapore, Hong Kong, almost equally good in infrastructure, goods and services, and housing, is perceived to be more affected by natural disasters such as typhoons.
"But Hong Kong's main issue that really separates it from Singapore is its air pollution," Quane said. The city's air quality was among the least favorable, compared with places such as New Delhi and other developing locations that are prone to poor air quality. "This is where Hong Kong really fails," Quane said.
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