33
-
Wednesday, November 15, 1972
MOTOR VEHICLE EXHAUST FUMES TO BE MORE STRICTLY CONTROLLED
Legislation to impose stricter control over motor vehicle exhaust
fumes is being drafted.
This was disclosed today by the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. Sir
Hugh Norman-Walker, in reply to a question by the Hon. P.C. Woo at the
Legislative Council meeting,
He said that when a police officer sees a vehicle emitting excessive
exhaust smoke, a report is made to the Traffic Division which decides whether
to prosecute under Regulation 106 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use)
Regulations, or to call the vehicle up for inspection under Regulation 167.
The Colonial Secretary also said that there were separate proposals
for a new mechanical inspection centre at which a wider range of vehicles
could be inspected annually before their licences were renewed.
Sir Hugh said that in September and October this year, 878 notices were
served by the police, requiring owners to produce vehicles for inspection because
of excessive smoke.
"These notices related to 348 public transport vehicles, 324 private
cars and 206 goods vehicles."
He also added that during the same period, there were 77 prosecutions
for this offence.
The Colonial Secretary went on to explain that most complaints about
excessive smoke related to diesel-engined vehicles "because they often produce
black smoke and an unpleasant smell, and their exhaust fumes are therefore more
obvious".
"But according to the Report on Air Pollution, fumes of this sort are not
toxic. In fact, the most dangerous pollutant emitted by vehicles is the less
visible carbon monoxide, of which only a low level is produced by diesel engines,"
Sir Hugh said,
134