​The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, today (March 31) visited Tsui Ping Estate, Kwun Tong, to view a COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Station (MVS) (Station No. 4) which operates in the form of an electric vaccination vehicle. He urged members of the public to get vaccinated early to secure protection for themselves, their families and the healthcare system.
      
     Mr Wong said that the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic remains severe, with the daily number of positive cases persisting at a high level and the sewage surveillance results reflecting a similar trend. The Government is sparing no effort in boosting the vaccination rate by increasing the venues for COVID-19 vaccinations. He appealed to all members of the public to get vaccinated early by making use of available services so as to secure timely protection from the vaccine.
      
     Mr Wong, together with the Chief Innovation Officer of the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre (APAS) of the HKPC, Dr Lawrence Cheung, and the General Manager of the APAS of the HKPC, Mr Allan Lai, inspected the operation of the MVS (Station No. 4). In collaboration with the local motor company, the HKPC has developed the first swappable battery, low-floor platform pure electric minibus and delivery truck in Hong Kong. Recently, to facilitate the COVID-19 vaccination of the public, the electric vehicle was retrofitted into the MVS (Station No. 4). It has visited many residential care homes for the elderly, schools and public housing estates since early March to facilitate the COVID-19 vaccination of the public including the elderly and students.
      
     The electric vehicle adopts a pure electric design with solar photovoltaic panels installed on the rooftop, balancing efficiency and environmental protection needs. It does not emit exhaust gas when operating along the roadside and will not affect the air quality even if the vehicle keeps running or idles for long hours during operation.
      
     Mr Wong said, "Developing 'green transport' is one of the essential policy areas to mitigate climate change. The Government promulgated last year the Hong Kong Roadmap on Popularisation of Electric Vehicles, the Clean Air Plan for Hong Kong 2035, and the Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050, formulating various green transport measures including ceasing the new registration of fuel-propelled and hybrid private cars in 2035 or earlier. For electric commercial vehicles, the Government will promote trials for electric and new-energy public transport and commercial vehicles, as well as popularisation of electric buses and other vehicles such as hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, with a view to reaching the long-term target of zero emissions for vehicles and zero carbon emissions in the transport sector by 2050, striving towards Hong Kong's goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050.

Ends/Thursday, March 31, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:35

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