The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (April 17) announced a special arrangement for the Ex-gratia Payment Scheme for Phasing Out Euro IV Diesel Commercial Vehicles. For Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles first registered in 2008, the deadline for applying for an ex-gratia payment will be extended by one year to December 31, 2024.

     To improve roadside air quality and better safeguard public health, the EPD launched in 2020 an ex-gratia payment scheme to progressively phase out by the end of 2027 about 40 000 Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles (DCVs) including goods vehicles, non-franchised buses and light buses. Eligible vehicle owners should, during the implementation of the scheme, scrap their Euro IV DCVs through vehicle scrapping companies registered under the scheme. They should then go to the Transport Department to cancel the registration of their DCVs before the deadline, and apply for the ex-gratia payment within three months after the cancellation of the vehicle's registration.

     “Despite the gradual cessation of the epidemic in Hong Kong and various businesses returning to normalcy since early this year, the transport trades are still coping with various operational challenges and difficulties, and some owners of Euro IV DCVs first registered in 2008 might not be able to complete the necessary procedures for applying for the ex-gratia payment by the deadline (i.e. December 31, 2023). In consideration of the situation, the EPD hence introduced the above special arrangement," an EPD spokesman said.

     The EPD spokesman reminds the vehicle owners concerned that approval of the ex-gratia payment is still subject to the applicant meeting all other prevailing eligibility criteria and completing all necessary procedures under the ex-gratia payment scheme, and submitting the application for the ex-gratia payment on or before December 31, 2024.
      
     Moreover, in accordance with the Air Pollution Control (Air Pollutant Emission)(Controlled Vehicles) Regulation (Cap. 311X), the Government will stop issuing/renewing vehicle licences for Euro IV DCVs first registered in 2008 after December 31, 2023. The vehicle owners concerned who need to apply for vehicle licence renewal after the deadline shall apply to the EPD for exemption under Section 6 of the Regulation for extending the retirement deadline.

     For details of the ex-gratia payment scheme and the above special arrangement, please refer to the EPD's website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/Phasing_out_euro_iv_comm_veh.html) or contact the EPD by calling 2651 1100 or by email to EU4dcv@epd.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, April 17, 2023
Issued at HKT 11:00

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