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Transitional arrangements for strengthened emission control for petrol and LPG vehicles
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     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced today (October 17) transitional arrangements for the strengthened emission control programme for petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles that commenced on September 1 this year. The transitional arrangements took immediate effect and will last till January 31 next year.

     An EPD spokesperson said, "We have recently received feedback from LPG taxi and light bus owners and vehicle mechanics that more time is needed to fix defective engine parts for passing the new dynamometer emission test. They would like the EPD, during this initial period of the new control programme, to defer the testing deadline in the emission testing notice. Furthermore, some garages have yet to master the skill to fix the excessive emission problem and the vehicles need to undertake the emission test several times before they can pass it. The relevant trades would like the EPD to consider providing free tests to help them adapt to the more comprehensive new emission test."

     The spokesperson said that to help in the trades' transition to the more comprehensive emission test, the EPD has decided to implement the following two transitional measures:

(i) extending the period for petrol and LPG vehicles, which are found emitting excessive emissions, to pass the emission test from the current 12 working days to 25 working days; and

(ii) providing up to two free tests to those petrol and LPG vehicles that have failed the first emission tests on condition that (a) the vehicle owners have to pay for the first emission test and (b) the pollutant emissions of the vehicles are not more than five times the level of their design standards in the test.

     According to the EPD's records, in September there were 56 vehicles tested at the designated vehicle emission testing centres with the new dynamometer emission test. The overall passing rate was around 50 per cent and about 80 per cent of the passed vehicles could pass in their first attempt. For those that failed, the vehicle owners should further repair the vehicles such as by repairing engine ignition and engine components relating to the control of the air/fuel ratio such as mixers, evaporators and exhaust gas regeneration valves.

     According to the EPD's remote sensing data, in September about 34 000 vehicles were scanned and over 99 per cent of them did not have excessive emissions. For LPG taxis and light buses, even though with their high mileage, their passing rates were about 98 per cent and 95 per cent respectively. The results were far better than the respective 20 per cent and 55 per cent before replacement of their catalytic converters and oxygen sensors.

     The spokesperson also appealed to petrol and LPG vehicle owners to not only replace in a timely manner the catalytic converters of their vehicles, but also to check regularly major vehicle engine parts for repair to avoid damaging their vehicles' catalytic converters and making excessive emissions.

     Proper vehicle repair and maintenance can reduce vehicle emissions, improve driving performance and lower fuel consumption. This year, the EPD has organised a number of technical seminars for the vehicle maintenance, taxi and minibus trades and distributed to garages technical guidance notes. The department shall continue to organise these seminars and step up publicity to help vehicle owners raise their vehicles' maintenance levels to reduce vehicle emissions.

     For enquiries on the above transitional arrangements, please call the EPD hotline at 3619 6610.

Ends/Friday, October 17, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:33

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