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Following is a question by the Hon Martin Lee Chu-ming, and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (April 16):
Question:
Regarding emissions from franchised buses, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of buses in the fleet of each franchised bus company, broken down by the emission standards which they meet;
(b) of the respective average numbers of buses, deployed daily by each franchised bus company to ply the routes passing Hennessy Road, Queensway, Des Voeux Road Central or Nathan Road, which only meet the pre-Euro and Euro I emission standards;
(c) of the current number of buses which are over 17 years old in the fleet of each franchised bus company; and whether the Government has a policy for phasing out such buses as early as possible; if so, of the details of the policy; if not, the reasons for that;
(d) whether it has calculated the quantities of various types of air pollutants emitted by franchised buses meeting various emission standards; if it has, of the results of the calculation; and
(e) whether it has studied the feasibility of designating "low emission zones" in Hong Kong, where no pre-Euro and Euro I buses, which have higher emissions, are allowed to ply; if it has, of the outcome of the study; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) As at end 2007, the numbers of franchised buses in each of the franchised bus companies broken down by emission standards are given in Table 1 of the Annex.
(b) As at end 2007, the numbers of pre-Euro and Euro I franchised buses of each of the franchised bus companies plying along Hennessy Road, Queensway, Des Voeux Road Central or Nathan Road, are given in Table 2 of the Annex.
(c) At present, there are no buses over 17 years old in the franchised bus fleet.
Franchised bus companies have all along run franchised bus services with buses not exceeding 17 years old. According to the Public Bus Services Ordinance, Chapter 230, a franchised bus company shall submit to the Commissioner for Transport each year a "Forward Planning Programme", which contains a programme for the scrapping of buses that are unfit for use, and for the purchase of new buses. The Commissioner for Transport, when considering the "Forward Planning Programme" including the programme for scrapping buses that are unfit for use, shall ensure that the franchised bus company is able to maintain a proper and efficient public bus service.
(d) In 2006, the emissions of nitrogen oxides, respirable suspended particulates, volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide from franchised buses were about 2,120 tonnes, 100 tonnes, 100 tonnes and 350 tonnes respectively. The franchised bus emissions, broken down by emission standards, are given in Table 3 of the Annex.
(e) The Government will study the feasibility of designating "low emission zones" that deny access to pre-Euro and Euro I buses and their effectiveness in improving roadside air quality.
At present, about one-third of the existing franchised bus fleet are of pre-Euro or Euro I models. In Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Causeway Bay and other busy districts, a lot of people commute in and out. They are also the main service areas of franchised bus services. In considering restricting older buses from entering into these districts, the Government needs to examine carefully the impacts of the restriction on the overall road traffic network, the public transport services, as well as on passengers.
The Government also needs to study carefully whether deploying all pre-Euro or Euro I buses to operate outside the "low emission zones" will shift the roadside air pollution problem to areas which are currently unaffected, or worsen their current situation.
Ends/Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:47
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