Hung Shing Yeh Beach, Lamma Island, Hong Kong
During the winter months, the prevailing winds blow down from the Asian landmass to the South China Sea. The odd coloring and lack of clarity here is caused by intense air pollution from the Chinese mainland, which is spreading to Hong Kong and Japan.
John King Fairbank and Merle Goldman write in China: A New History that China's intense pollution is the result of rapid industrialization combined with an autocratic system of government: ""The world's biggest and most populous country is headed for an ecological nightmare that will require great collective effort to overcome."
One reason that Lamma is a popular place to live is that, with no cars and factories, it is less polluted than the rest of Hong Kong.
