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SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978
DON'T ADD YOUR ENGINE TO YOUR FUEL BILL
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IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY MORE DIESEL VEHICLES SEEM TO BE BREAKING DOWN LATELY, IT IS POSSIBLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING ON A MIXTURE OF KEROSENE AND DIESEL OIL.
DRIVERS AND VEHICLE OPERATORS SEEM TO HAVE CAUGHT ON TO THE FACT THAT MIXING CHEAPER KEROSENE WITH DIESEL FUEL CAN SAVE ON FUEL BILLS.
UP TILL NOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN ILLEGAL. BUT WHAT IT MUST HAVE DONE IS TO DAMAGE A LOT OF ENGINES LEAVING THE VEHICLE OWNERS TO FACE BIG REPAIR BILLS,
BESIDES THE TOLL IN DAMAGED LORRY AND MINIBUS ENGINES, THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAD IMPOSED A DUTY ON PETROL AND DIESEL FUEL USED IN ROAD VEHICLES, HAS BEEN LOSING REVENUE BECAUSE OF VEHICLES USING KEROSENE ON WHICH NO DUTY IS PAYABLE.
AND THE MAN IN THE STREET HAS HAD TO SUFFER FROM INCREASED POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE MIXTURE AS WELL AS SOMETHING OF AN INCREASED FIRE RISK.
THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, WHICH PASSED ITS SECOND READING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 24, PROPOSES TO MAKE THE MIXING OF KEROSENE AND DIESEL OIL AN OFFENCE WITH A FINE OF HK$100,000 OR UP TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON.
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ONE OR TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT IS PASSED. AFTER IT BECOMES LAW, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE WILL THEN CARRY OUT SPOT CHECKS ON VEHICLES TO MAKE SURE DRIVERS
ARE NOT BREAKING THE LAW AS WELL AS DAMAGING THEIR VEHICLES' ENGINES.
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