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Following is a question by the Hon Choy So-yuk and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 29) :
Question:
Although the local passenger service of the Kowloon-Canton Railway East Rail (ER) has become fully electrified since 1983, many diesel locomotives are still running on the tracks of ER every day hauling freight and engineering trains. Some residents living in areas along ER have complained about the excessive noise and pungent black smoke emitted from such diesel locomotives. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the total number of the relevant complaints received by the authorities concerned in the past three years, with a breakdown by the contents of complaints;
(b) whether it knows the average daily number of trips made by diesel locomotives on ER tracks at present;
(c) whether there are provisions on the permitted noise and emission levels of such diesel locomotives; if there are, of the details, and whether the compliance with such provisions is monitored regularly by the Environmental Protection Department; if it is monitored, of the results; if there are no such provisions, of the reasons for that; and
(d) whether it will strengthen the control on noise and emissions from diesel locomotives; if it will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) Over the 34 months period between January 2004 to October 2006, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) received a total of 6 noise complaints and 15 air emission complaints against KCRC diesel locomotives.
(b) According to the information provided by the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC), on average diesel trains make 12 round trips using the KCR East Rail per day. They include 8 round trips by inter-city passenger trains and 4 round trips by freight trains.
(c) Sections 13 and 37 of the Noise Control Ordinance apply to railway noise. The relevant noise standards are set out in the Technical Memorandum for the Assessment of Noise from Places other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites promulgated under the Noise Control Ordinance. However, according to Section 37 of the Ordinance, the control of KCRC train noise shall apply to the KCRC only so far as is practicable and compatible with the discharge of any function or the exercise of any power or duty conferred or imposed upon them according to law. Aware of the noise produced by running trains, the EPD has been discussing with the KCRC on a practical noise reduction programme. In the early 1990's, the KCRC drew up a noise reduction programme based on the results and recommendations of a consultancy study. The programme studied and took into account various relevant factors, including the seriousness of the noise problem at different locations along the railway line, the priorities of retrofitting noise reducing installations, as well as the practicability and effectiveness of implementing noise reduction measures. The programme, which includes for example, the full enclosure noise barrier at Tai Wo Station and the semi enclosure noise barrier near Hing Keng, has been substantially completed. The KCRC has also scheduled all freight diesel locomotives before 11 pm and has negotiated with the relevant Mainland authorities over the early replacement of the inter-city diesel trains currently running between Hong Kong and the Mainland with electric ones. Regarding the engineering trains used for rail maintenance at night time, the KCRC has plan to replace the old diesel locomotives with new environmentally friendly locomotives. So far, five locomotives have been replaced.
No emission standards for diesel locomotives are specified in the current Air Pollution Control Ordinance. Since the electrification of KCR in 1983, the number of diesel locomotives has dropped considerably. Trips made by diesel trains only represent a very small percentage of the total number of trips. The KCRC has already used ultra low sulphur diesel to reduce environmental impact. The EPD has requested KCRC to pay attention to the repair and maintenance of diesel locomotives in order to reduce emission.
(d) As mentioned above, KCRC has already taken practical measures to reduce noise and emission from diesel locomotives. In future, with the full replacement of diesel locomotives by electric ones for the inter-city trains, the situation will be improved effectively. Hence, there is no need to strengthen legislative control at the moment.
Ends/Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:56
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