FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993
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UNLEADED PETROL MORE FRIENDLY TO ENVIRONMENT
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AIR QUALITY AT URBAN POLLUTION SPOTS WILL RE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED IF TAXIS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES (PLB'S) AND LIGHT VANS ARR ΤΟ OPERATE ON UNLEADED PETROL, A GROUP OF GREEN PLB OPERATORS WERE TOLD TODAY (FRIDAY).
AND THE
OF
THE
SAID AT
AT A REGULAR MEETING BETWEEN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT GROUP, PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EFD), MR RAYMOND LEUNG, CERTAIN LOCATIONS, SUCH AS BUSY URBAN CENTRES, LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OVER 50 PER CENT OF THE PARTICULATES IN THE AIR.
THE EPD PROPOSED VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL STRATEGY WHICH WAS ENDORSED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MONDAY, INCLUDES PROPOSED MEASURES TO REQUIRE NEW TAXIS, PLB'S AND LIGHT VANS TO OPERATE ON UNLEADED PETROL.
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"THE IMPROVEMENT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT, MR 1.EUNG SAID. "NEW UNLEADED PETROL VEHICLES EMIT NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT OF PARTICULATES, AND LOWER LEVEL OF OTHER POLLUTANTS SUCH AS NITROGEN OXIDES.
DEPARTMENTS
THIS PROPOSAL IS AT A VERY INITIAL STAGE, AND THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONSULT ALL GOVERNMENT
CONCERNED AS WELL A9 THE INDUSTRY, MR LEUNG SAID.
"WE ARE PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE KEEP A CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH THE INDUSTRY AND WE ARE ALWAYS READY TO LISTEN ΤΟ THEIR VIEWS, HE ADDED.
MR LEUNG STRESSED THAT THE PROPOSAL WAS INTENDED TO APPLY TO NEW VEHICLES ONLY, AND THAT EXISTING VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO MAKE CHANGES.
"WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE LIKELY IMPLICATIONS ON COSTS AND WE ARE CONSIDERING SEVERAL POSSIBLE MEASURES TO ADDRESS THIS, HE SAID,
THE PROPOSAL IS ONE OF THE FOUR INITIATIVES RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL STRATEGY.
THE OTHER THREE PROPOSALS INCLUDE REQUIRING NEW LARGE DIESEL VEHICLES TO MEET TIGHTENED EMISSION STANDARDS; INCREASING VEHICLE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS; AND EXPLORING NEW VEHICLE EMISSION CONTROL TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS ELECTRIC VEHICLES
AND
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
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