New bus fuel could save hundreds of lives in Hong Kong

That’s because it will pollute less.

A study in the Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis says that 1,260 lives can be saved over the next 13 years if Hong Kong’s 5,170 buses built to Euro I, II and III standards are replaced now with cleaner Euro V models.

Changing over to the Euro V buses will cost some HK$15 billion but will generate HK$26 billion in net economic benefits for Hong Kong by 2026. These benefits include lower hospital costs and higher productivity.

The government already has plans to retire all pre-Euro V buses in 18 years. Euro IV models would stay on the roads in the meantime.

Analysts noted that the contract between the government and bus companies to phase out pre-Euro V buses in 18 years seems to mean that this process cannot be speeded up.

The Hedley Environmental Index estimated there were at least 195 premature deaths in Hong Kong and 400,000 doctor visits last month and eight million doctor visits in 2011 as a result of air pollution.