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Diesel vehicle emissions deteriorate air quality
Air quality in Hong Kong will continue to deteriorate unless effective measures are taken quickly to reduce excessive emissions of respiratory suspended particulates (RSP) from diesel vehicles which cause respiratory illnesses and increased mortality.
The Deputy Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands (Environment) Mr Tony Cooper said: "Pollution from RSP emissions is far more serious than other pollutants emitted by vehicles.
"At present, RSP emissions in the urban areas remain consistently at a high level that almost doubles the acceptable limit set in our Air Quality Objective.
"None of the proposals other than the scheme proposed by the Government will be able to bring RSP levels down to an acceptable level.
"Neither the suggestions of stringent emission control nor cleaner diesel will achieve our objective.
"Moreover, stringent control will be very disruptive as operators will be required to pull their diesel vehicles off the road almost once every month for maintenance and inspection.
"The use of cleaner diesel fuel as an alternative is also not practical because diesel free from these pollutants is very expensive.
Mr Cooper noted that other pollutants emitted by vehicles on the road, namely benzene, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, were emitted at significantly lower than the acceptable levels.
"The roadside benzene level in Hong Kong is only 45 per cent of the UK standard. The level is expected to drop to 20 per cent when older vehicles without catalytic converters are phased out.
"The proposed diesel-to-petrol scheme will not cause any economic hardship because the Government will include in the scheme financial incentives to help keep the cost increase, attributable to the switch, to one to two per cent.
"Moreover, the Government is prepared to consider extending the conversion period and to monitor the operating cost estimates closely with a view to adjusting them if necessary upon the implementation of the scheme," Mr Cooper said.
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