LCQ6 : More diesel light buses to be replaced by LPG or electric ones expected

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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Wai-hing, Emily and an oral reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (March 19) :-

Question:

In September 1995, the Administration consulted the public on a proposal to phase out light duty diesel vehicles by replacing them with petrol vehicles using unleaded petrol and catalytic converters. The proposal was not implemented as the transport trades strongly opposed it. In this connection, will the Executive Authorities inform this Council:

(a) of a detailed comparison of light duty vehicles using various types of fuels, particularly, in terms of operating costs, fuel efficiency, safety, supply and distribution;

(b) whether, in view of the difficulties encountered in the implementation of the plan to replace diesel public light buses (PLBs) with vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas or electricity, they will re-consider the proposal of replacing diesel PLBs with petrol vehicles; if so, of the timeframe for assessing the feasibility of the proposal and working out the relevant implementation details; and

Reply:

Madam President,

The following types of light vehicles are being supplied in the Hong Kong market:

* petrol private cars

* liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) taxis

* petrol and diesel 12-seat light buses

* diesel, LPG and electric 16-seat light buses

* diesel and petrol light vans

* diesel light goods vehicles

The current retail prices of a litre of motor petrol, diesel and LPG are as follows:

* petrol about $11.2

* diesel about $ 6.3

* LPG about $ 2.1

Electricity tariffs vary depending on the district and the units of electricity consumed. On Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island, the basic tariff for commercial/industrial consumers is about $1.07 for each of the first 1500 units of electricity consumed, and about $1.15 per unit thereafter. In Kowloon, the New Territories and outlying islands (except Lamma Island), the basic tariff for commercial/industrial consumers is about HK$0.97 for each of the first 5000 units of electricity consumed, and about HK$0.96 per unit thereafter.

Regarding fuel efficiency, in terms of kilometres travelled per litre of fuel consumed, diesel vehicles are the most efficient, followed by petrol vehicles. LPG vehicles are the least efficient. It is not appropriate to compare electric vehicles with the three other types of vehicles because of their different mode of mechanical operation.

In term of costs, if we take into account only the retail prices of fuels and fuel efficiency, petrol vehicles generally have the highest operating cost per kilometre travelled. Electric vehicles rank second, followed by diesel vehicles. LPG vehicles have the lowest operating cost.

Regarding emission of air pollutants, the level of emissions varies according to the type of vehicles and models (such as pre-Euro, Euro I, II or III). Overall speaking, diesel vehicles have the highest level of emissions and LPG vehicles have the lowest level of emissions. The level of emissions of petrol vehicles is low but they have their own peculiar problem and I am not going to elaborate. Electric vehicles have zero emissions from the perspective of roadside emissions.

Regarding safety, all vehicles must comply with the local statutory safety standards in order to be registered for use on Hong Kong's roads.

Among the 6000-odd diesel light buses in Hong Kong, about 400 have already been replaced by LPG ones. After the introduction of the LPG and electric light bus programme, over 80 per cent of the newly registered light buses are LPG ones, while those that are run on diesel constitute just over 10 per cent. Therefore, we do not agree that difficulties are being encountered in the implementation of the programme. We also do not consider it necessary at this stage to think of other options to achieve our aim to reduce emissions from light buses. Under the incentive programme, to be eligible for the one-off grant or exemption from first registration tax (FRT), owners of diesel light buses over 10 years of age have until end-2004 to replace their vehicles, and owners of diesel light buses below 10 years old have until end-2005 to replace their vehicles. Since the deadlines of application for the grants or FRT exemption are still way ahead, some diesel light bus owners may choose to replace their vehicles in slower time. We expect that more owners will replace their diesel light buses with LPG or electric ones in the run-up to the deadlines.

End/Wednesday, March 19, 2003

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