WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1991
INTRODUCE NEW
HE SAID: "THE SECOND PART OF THE STRATEGY IS TO LEGISLATION TO EXERCISE MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER SMOKE EMISSIONS FROM VEHICLES IN USE.
"ONE OF THE SYSTEMS TO ENFORCE THE EMISSION CONTROL DERIVES FROM THE POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE (RTO) TO ISSUE AN EXAMINATION ORDER.
PROVISIONS UNDER THE
"THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUIRE THE OWNER OR DRIVER OF A VEHICLE TO PRESENT IT FOR EXAMINATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER IT COMPLIES WITH THE RTO.
"FOR ENFORCEMENT OF EMISSION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS, THESE POWERS HAVE BEEN DELEGATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD)."
MR
BARNES NOTED THAT THERE WERE LARGE NUMBERS OF SMOKY VEHICLES ON THE ROADS OF HONG KONG.
EVEN THOUGH THE EPD CURRENTLY EXAMINED ABOUT 1,600 VEHICLES PER MONTH, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE SMOKE EMISSION PROBLEM WAS NOT BEING SOLVED.
ABOUT -
THE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATED THAT A TESTING CAPACITY OF 5,000 VEHICLES PER MONTH WAS NEEDED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SMOKY VEHICLES ON OUR ROADS SUBSTANTIALLY.
A
"TO INCREASE TESTING CAPACITY, IT IS NOW PROPOSED TO ESTABLISH SYSTEM OF APPROVED EMISSION TESTING CENTRES TO BE ADMINISTERED BY EPD UNDER PROVISIONS SIMILAR TO THOSE WHICH GOVERN THE EXISTING PRIVATE CAR TESTING SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT,
TT MR BARNES SAID.
"THESE CENTRES WOULD GENERALLY BE PRIVATE SERVICE CENTRES, IN MOST CASES THE SAME CENTRES WHICH ARE INVOLVED IN THE PRIVATE CAR TESTING SCHEME.
"EPD'S EMISSION TESTING CENTRE WILL REMAIN AS A DESIGNATED CENTRE FOR TESTING THE LARGER VEHICLES WHICH THE PRIVATE CENTRES WOULD NOT EASILY BE ABLE TO TEST BECAUSE OF SPACE LIMITATIONS.
"SUCH CENTRES WILL BE DESIGNATED FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS THE DESIGNATION CAN BE RENEWED.
++
AND
CODES OF PRACTICE COULD BE ISSUED FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES SUCH AS REGULATION OF TESTING PROCEDURES.
FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION, POWERS WOULD BE PROVIDED TO AUTHORISED OFFICERS TO ENTER A VEHICLE EMISSION TESTING CENTRE TO INSPECT RECORDS, EQUIPMENT AND SO ON, HE SAID.
IF THE VEHICLE OWNER FAILED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE EXAMINED VEHICLE EMISSION TESTING CENTRE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT REFUSE ΤΟ RENEW THE LICENCE, OR CANCEL THE LICENCE OP THE CONCERNED, MR BARNES SAID.
AT
A COULD VEHICLE
/TURNING TO
7