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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, today (May 12) officiated at a ceremony to launch the trial of Mitsubishi's electric vehicle, the i MiEV.
"I am very pleased that Hong Kong can be the first territory in Asia, after Japan, to give this new type of electric vehicle a trial. This is an important milestone as we finally have the opportunity to give electric vehicles a trial in Hong Kong and examine their suitability in our environment," Mr Tsang said.
The Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and its authorised distributor in Hong Kong, Universal Cars Limited, on February 26, to test Mitsubishi's i MiEV.
"The trial will not only provide the Government with useful information in evaluating electric vehicles, but also raise public awareness of this new form of transportation as a viable alternative," Mr Tsang said.
The Government recently secured the supply of a number of i MiEVs from the first batch of limited production by Mitsubishi in the near future. This is considered crucial for Hong Kong's next phase of larger scale testing and will also expose a wider section of the community to the experience of driving an electric vehicle.
The Financial Secretary earlier chaired the first meeting of the Steering Committee on the Promotion of Electric Vehicles. The steering committee considered a strategic work plan and actions planned for this cause.
Mr Tsang identified in this year's Budget the promotion of electric vehicles as a key measure to promote a green economy. The Government has announced a host of measures to promote the wider adoption of electric vehicles in Hong Kong.
Ends/Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:16
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