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The Government has proposed to introduce a new Regulation under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance to reduce vehicle emissions of air pollutants by requiring all pre-Euro diesel light vehicles to be retrofitted with emission reduction devices (ERDs).

A Government spokesman said today (May 16) that under the Air Pollution Control (Emission Reduction Devices for Vehicles) Regulation, all pre-Euro diesel light vehicles not exceeding four tonnes must be retrofitted with an ERD in good working condition and of a type approved by the Director of Environmental Protection.

Pre-Euro diesel light vehicles include diesel private cars, goods vehicles and light buses that were first registered on or before March 31, 1995 and taxis that were first registered on or before December 31, 1995.

"If a pre-Euro diesel light vehicle is not equipped with an ERD or has been installed with an ERD which is not in good working condition, its vehicle licence may be cancelled by the Commissioner for Transport under the Road Traffic Ordinance. If a vehicle is found not complying with the ERD requirement during the annual roadworthiness inspection, its licence will not be renewed," the spokesman explained.

Diesel vehicles are a major source of roadside air pollution in Hong Kong. Pre-Euro vehicles account for half of the diesel vehicle population. A pre-Euro diesel vehicle emits up to seven times more particulates than a vehicle meeting the latest emission standards of the European Union, i.e. the Euro III standards.

"An ERD can reduce the particulate emission of a pre-Euro diesel light vehicle by 30%," the spokesman added.

The Government implemented a programme between September 2000 and October 2001 to retrofit pre-Euro diesel light vehicles not exceeding four tones with ERDs. The new Regulation will make the proper installation of such devices a requirement for licence renewal of these vehicles, thereby ensuring that the retrofitted devices will not be removed.

The Regulation is gazetted today and will be tabled in the Legislative Council on May 21. Subject to the approval of the Council, the Regulation will become effective on December 1, 2003.

End/Friday, May 16, 2003

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