China, Take Two

China, Take Two Last week I reported from Hong Kong and observed that the mass transportation system is squeaky clean, efficient, and works for over 80% of the population. From Hong Kong I traveled to Shanghai, where I was mesmerized by the explosive growth that has occurred there over the past five years. Most notable in Hong Kong and Shanghai is the dense commercial office development that is punctuated by some of the most exceptional architecture that I have seen anywhere. China invites world-class architects to design away and produce dazzling results, which are then accented at night with spectacular lighting effects. So…what’s the rub? Pollution. I now better understand global warming as I observed pollution in Beijing at a level that I didn’t believe could exist. I must admit that my firsthand observations of the reality of what China is doing to the atmosphere did dampen my enthusiasm.