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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1977
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CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE EXHAUST SMOKE FROM VEHICLES
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THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHORTLY BE MOUNTING A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO PERSUADE MOTORISTS TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLES PROPERLY MAINTAINED SO AS TO REDUCE THE EMISSION OF EXHAUST SMOKE.
THE CAMPAIGN, TO BE CARRIED OUT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO RIGOROUSLY ENFORCE THE LAW AGAINST SUCH OFFENCES.
THIS WAS REVEALED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HON. DEREK JONES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ROGER LOBO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MR. JONES SAID THAT GIVEN THE PRESENT STATE OF THE LAW, THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WAS BEING DONE TO REDUCE TO A MINIMUM THE POLLUTION AND CONSEQUENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD CAUSED BY VEHICLES EMITTING EXCESSIVE SMOKE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE QUESTION OF WHAT CONSTITUTED EXCESSIVE SMOKE HAD BEEN +A MATTER OF SUBJECTIVE JUDGEMENT+ WHICH COULD CAUSE DIFFICULTIES IN SOME CASES.
+FOR THIS REASON, THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW PROPOSING TO SEEK AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS SO AS TO LAY DOWN EXACT EXHAUST EMISSION STANDARDS AND TO TEST THESE BY MEANS OF SMOKEMETERS, WHICH CAN BE USED ON THE SPOT,+ MR. JONES SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE POLICE AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WERE BEING ISSUED WITH THESE SMOKEMETERS AND THE IR USE WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS.
THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT VEHICLES REPORTED TO BE EMITTING EXCESSIVE SMOKE WERE REQUIRED TO BE PRESENTED FOR INSPECTION AND THEIR OWNERS WERE THEN ASKED TO RECTIFY ANY MECHANICAL FAULTS.
LAST YEAR, 3,000 VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED FOR THIS CAUSE, HE SAID.
MR. JONES FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT EVERY VEHICLE CALLED IN FOR INSPECTION, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WAS ALSO CHECKED FOR EXCESSIVE SMOKE AND, WHERE NECESSARY, REMEDIAL WORK WAS REQUIRED TO BE DONE.
BESIDES, ALL NEW VEHICLES IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG ARE NOW REQUIRED BY LAW TO MEET THE HIGH STANDARDS OF EXHAUST EMISSION ADOPTED IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY.