XN000022-1972-11-15 — Page 33

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Wednesday, November 15, 1972

MOTOR VEHICLE EXHAUST FUMES TO BE MORE STRICTLY CONTROLLED

Legislation to impose stricter control over motor vehicle exhaust

fumes is being drafted.

This was disclosed today by the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. Sir

Hugh Norman-Walker, in reply to a question by the Hon. P.C. Woo at the

Legislative Council meeting,

He said that when a police officer sees a vehicle emitting excessive

exhaust smoke, a report is made to the Traffic Division which decides whether

to prosecute under Regulation 106 of the Road Traffic (Construction and Use)

Regulations, or to call the vehicle up for inspection under Regulation 167.

The Colonial Secretary also said that there were separate proposals

for a new mechanical inspection centre at which a wider range of vehicles

could be inspected annually before their licences were renewed.

Sir Hugh said that in September and October this year, 878 notices were

served by the police, requiring owners to produce vehicles for inspection because

of excessive smoke.

"These notices related to 348 public transport vehicles, 324 private

cars and 206 goods vehicles."

He also added that during the same period, there were 77 prosecutions

for this offence.

The Colonial Secretary went on to explain that most complaints about

excessive smoke related to diesel-engined vehicles "because they often produce

black smoke and an unpleasant smell, and their exhaust fumes are therefore more

obvious".

"But according to the Report on Air Pollution, fumes of this sort are not

toxic. In fact, the most dangerous pollutant emitted by vehicles is the less

visible carbon monoxide, of which only a low level is produced by diesel engines,"

Sir Hugh said,

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