HK short of breath from 'wall effect'

HONG KONG: World famous for its skyscrapers, Hong Kong's bustling urban landscape now faces a shortage of good air ventilation.

Medical experts and environmentalists have expressed concern over the proliferation of the concrete jungle creating a "wall effect", blocking the flow of fresh air.

Many residential high-rises are built along the waterfront where the sea views are a prime real estate commodity. However, for many residents living in apartment buildings further back, the availability of fresh sea air has become less of a right, and more of a privilege.