KONG HA AWARD

For the first time in BAQ history, eligible for the Kong Ha Award this year are cities that have demonstrated exemplary work in addressing specific air pollution issue/s and continue to strive in improving air quality in their cities. The nomination process and award criteria for cities will be posted soon on this page.

In 2008 the Clean Air Asia Partnership established the Kong Ha Award for Excellence in Air Quality Management to honour the memory of the late Kong Ha, who served as the chairperson of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (Clean Air Asia) from December 2004 to April 2007.

The award serves as a tribute to persons who have a responsibility for the formulation of air quality management related policies and their day-to-day implementation in Asia. This, in the view of the Clean Air Asia Partnership, is the best way to honour Kong Ha, who through his deep commitment and knowledge, relentless enthusiasm, and strong sense of partnership was a key person in shaping and overseeing the implementation of mobile source emission reduction policies in Hong Kong.

The Kong Ha Award for Excellence in Air Quality Management in Asia is handed out by the Clean Air Asia Partnership in conjunction with the Better Air Quality Conference (BAQ). Kong Ha, together with Wing-tat Hung (Hong Kong Polytechnic University) and W.C. Mok of Hong Kong EPD were the founding fathers of BAQ.

BAQ 2016: Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, who worked with various Thai government agencies including as Director General of the Pollution Control Department, has been instrumental in institutionalizing air quality management in Thailand and is an esteemed role model for air quality management scientists and practitioners in cities and countries across Asia.

BAQ 2014: Dr. B.M.S. Batagoda for his work in air quality management which helped Sri Lanka achieve tremendous results in improving air quality through wider and effective stakeholder participation.

BAQ 2012: Dr. Mukesh Sharma who was instrumental in the inclusion of new parameters (ozone, arsenic, nickel, benzene and benzo(a)pyrene) to India’s Revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards in 2009.

BAQ 2010: Mr. Ahmad Safrudin (better known as ‘Puput’) who was a key figure in the campaign for measures to address air pollution in Jakarta through advocacy programs and stakeholder involvement.

BAQ 2008: Mr. Shi Han Min, Director of Beijing’s Environmental Protection Bureau, for leading efforts to clean up the capital’s air for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing