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SEN appeals for proper maintenance of petrol and LPG vehicles to ensure compliance with new emissions control requirement (with photos)
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     The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, today (August 2) appealed to owners of petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles to properly maintain their vehicles in order to reduce emissions and ensure compliance with a new emissions control requirement to come into force next month.

     Officiating at the Vehicle Emissions Reduction Summer Carnival 2014 held at the Piazza area of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre today, Mr Wong said that improving air quality is a priority among the Government's policy objectives and roadside air quality is an area of particular concern.

     Mr Wong noted that the Government will further improve roadside air quality by strengthening emissions control for petrol and LPG vehicles by using roadside remote sensing equipment to identify vehicles with excessive emissions from September 1 this year.

     Under the new emissions control programme, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will deploy mobile remote sensing equipment at roadsides to step up monitoring of excessive emissions from petrol and LPG vehicles.

     Owners of vehicles found to have excessive emissions will be required to have their vehicles take a dynamometer-based emission test at a designated vehicle emission testing centre within 12 working days in order to ensure that the problem is rectified. Failure to meet the requirement will lead to cancellation of the licence of the vehicle concerned. A similar test requirement under the Smoky Vehicle Control Programme, which targets diesel vehicles, has been in place since 1988.

     A vehicle with a worn-out catalytic converter can have emissions exceeding normal levels tenfold, and defective catalytic converters can also increase fuel consumption, accelerate wear and tear of mechanical parts and reduce the reliability of vehicles. It is therefore essential for vehicle owners to replace defective engine parts (including worn-out catalytic converters) in a timely manner.

     Mr Wong pointed out that the Government set aside $150 million for a subsidy programme on a voluntary basis for the replacement of catalytic converters and oxygen sensors on petrol and LPG taxis and light buses. The subsidy programme ended this April and about 80 per cent of eligible vehicle owners joined the programme and had parts of their vehicles replaced.

     Other guests at today's carnival included representatives from the Vocational Training Council and motor trading and services associations.

     Today's carnival offered visitors an opportunity to learn more about vehicle emissions reduction, good driving habits and the importance of vehicle maintenance. Apart from being able to visit game booths featuring a range of themes such as "What is a Chassis Dynamometer", "Know about Remote Sensing Device Operation", "Fight Against Emissions Together", "Let's Drive Smartly" and "Better Maintain Our Cars", visitors could also enjoy on-stage variety shows.

Ends/Saturday, August 2, 2014
Issued at HKT 13:56

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