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In connection with the subsidy for the replacement of catalytic converters and oxygen sensors of petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) taxis and light buses, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 2) announced a special arrangement for vehicle owners who missed the deadlines to submit late applications. This one-off special arrangement will run from today until January 17, and there will be no further extension of the application period.
A spokesman for the EPD said, "After Phase One and Two applications closed, some vehicle owners said that they missed the application deadlines and would like to make submissions for the subsidy. The EPD has therefore made this special arrangement for them to submit late applications, covering Toyota LPG taxis and light buses of all manufacturing years. Interested eligible vehicle owners should hand in their submissions at any one of the designated garages, taking with them the vehicles and copies of the Vehicle Registration Documents. After the application has been approved and arrangements for the replacement parts have been made by the EPD, the replacement work for these vehicles will be scheduled on specified dates in April at the designated garages. Vehicle owners failing to make applications before the end of the special period will not be granted subsidies.
"The EPD received a total of 16,202 applications under Phases One and Two of the programme, accounting for 74 per cent of all eligible vehicles. The replacement of parts for Phase One ended on December 31, 2013. The replacement of parts for Phase Two is taking place between January 1 and March 31, 2014. Approved applicants should complete the replacement at the garages of applications as scheduled."
Replacement parts and services are provided by three suppliers and 52 designated vehicle repair garages. These suppliers and garages were selected by the EPD through open tenders. Vehicle owners can participate in the subsidy programme free of charge at most of the designated garages. Details of the programme have been uploaded to the EPD website: www.epd.gov.hk/epd/tc_chi/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/LPG_Catalytic_Converter_Replacement.html (Chinese version only).
The spokesman said, "At present, the catalytic converters of some 80 per cent of LPG taxis and 45 per cent of light buses are worn out, causing excessive emissions. Replacement of worn-out catalytic converters can reduce vehicle emissions by as much as 90 per cent."
He added, "To improve roadside air quality, after the completion of the programme, the EPD will use roadside remote sensing equipment to step up monitoring of excessive emissions of petrol and LPG vehicles. Vehicles found with excessive emissions will be required to pass an advanced emissions test with the aid of a chassis dynamometer within a prescribed period of time. Otherwise, the vehicle's licence will be cancelled."
For further information on the programme, please call the EPD hotline on 3618 7670.
Ends/Thursday, January 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:34
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