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Following is a question by the Hon Audrey Eu and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow (in the absence of the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works), at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 8) :
Question:
Regarding the statistics on the Government's vehicle fleet and the progress in switching to hybrid vehicles, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) using the attached table, of the numbers of various vehicles in the Government fleet at present; and
(b) whether it has set a target and timetable for replacing Government vehicles gradually with hybrid vehicles or other vehicles of lower emission levels, so as to encourage private car owners to switch to more environmentally-friendly vehicles, if it has, of the target and timetable; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The current number of various types of vehicles in the Government fleet are listed in the Annex.
(b) The Government is consulting the trades and the Legislative Council on the emission and fuel efficiency performance standards specified in the tax concession proposal. As the standards have yet to be finalised and the market of environment-friendly vehicles is still under development, it is not yet possible to set a specific timetable for replacing Government vehicles with environment-friendly vehicles at this stage. Upon completing the consultation and finalising the standards, the Government will give priority to vehicles complying with specified environmental standards when Government vehicles are due for replacement each year, subject to operational requirements and the rational utilisation of resources.
Ends/Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:53
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