Hong Kong entrepreneurs who own factories in the Pearl River Delta Region are grappling with a new challenge: Care about pollution or perish.

Related readings:  Environment outweighs production PetroChina branch fined for pollution

These entrepreneurs have been told to pull up their socks and take a long-term approach to meeting the exacting environmental standards set by mainland authorities.

On January 17, the Hong Kong-based owner of a metal factory was asked to help authorities in Shenzhen investigate allegations that the factory was leaking water contaminated with cyanide.

And a Hong Kong-owned textile factory was fined 11.5 million yuan ($1.48 million) last August for failing to meet local environmental standards, causing concern among Hong Kong businessmen.

It has also been reported that some entrepreneurs have moved their factories to the mainland's vast central region, where environmental requirements are less stringent.

But John Chai, the managing director of the electronics maker Fook Tin Group Holdings, belongs to a different breed. He understands, well and truly, the urgent need for environment protection. He said industrialists should be proactive in dealing with environmental issues.

1

2

3

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)