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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 1990
INTRODUCTION OF LEAD FREE PETROL NEXT YEAR
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED WITH THE OIL INDUSTRY TO INTRODUCE UNLEADED PETROL INTO HONG KONG AT ALL RETAIL OUTLETS FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MR ROBERT LAW, SAID LEGISLATION WAS BEING DRAFTED ΤΟ ENSURE THE SMOOTH INTRODUCTION OF THE FUEL AND TO PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE STRINGENT RMISSION STANDARDS FOR VEHICLES COMING INTO HONG KONG LATER NEXT YEAR.
MR LAW SAID THE USE OF UNLEADED PETROL WOULD ALLOW THE INTRODUCTION OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER TECHNOLOGY INTO HONG KONG TO ENABLE NEW PETROL ENGINED VEHICLES ΤΟ MEET THE TOUGHER EMISSION STANDARDS.
"LEAD QUICKLY POISONS THE CONVERTERS AND MAKES THEM
INEFFECTIVE,
"
HE SAID.
THE USE OF UNLEADED PETROL WOULD ALSO HELP REDUCE LEAD IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND IN ROADSIDE DUST.
MR LAW SAID THE EPD ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF PETROL ENGINED VEHICLES WOULD BE ABLE TO USE UNLEADED PETROL.
"ONLY VERY OLD VEHICLES AND SOME HIGHER PERFORMANCE CARS WILL CONTINUE TO NEED LEADED PETROL, HE ADDED.
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THE EPD, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OIL COMPANIES AND MOTOR TRADERS, WILL BE PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE OF INFORMATION FOR MOTORISTS LATER THIS YEAR.
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"AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE PACKAGE WILL ENABLE MOTORISTS TO WHETHER THEIR VEHICLES CAN USE UNLEADED PETROL AND, IF NOT, THE NEAREST LOCATION OF AN OUTLET SELLING LEADED PETROL AFTER APRIL 1991," MR LAW SAID,
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1.
IN ORDER TO GET THE MAXIMUM ENVIRONMENT BENEFIT FROM UNLEADED PETROL, MOTORISTS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO USE THIS NEW PETROL.
"ONE INCENTIVE BEING CONSIDERED IS TO MAKE THE NEW FUEL AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET AT A PRICE SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER THAN LEADED PETROL," MR LAW ADDED,
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