XN000022-1991-03-30 — Page 2

SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1991

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AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS 1991 ENACTED

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT THE AIR POLLUTION CONTROL (VEHICLE DESIGN STANDARDS) ( EMISSION) REGULATIONS 1991 HAVE BEEN ENACTED AND WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.

NEW VEHICLES WILL HAVE TO COMPLY WITH STRINGENT EMISSION

DESIGN STANDARDS.

THE FIRST PHASE OF CONTROL WILL APPLY TO PRIVATE

CARS, TAXIS, AND OTHER LIGHT DUTY VEHICLES, INCLUDING LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES AND LIGHT BUSES UP TO 2.5 TONNES IN GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT.

ALL THESE VEHICLES, IF REGISTERED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1 NEXT SHALL MEET THE APPROPRIATE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE

YEAR, STANDARDS.

DESIGN

BOTH PETROL AND DIESEL-ENGINED VEHICLES WILL BE CONTROLLED.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT HAS THE POWER TO

TO REFUSE TO REGISTER A VEHICLE IF IT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH VEHICLE DESIGN STANDARDS. EXEMPTION MAY BE GIVEN ΤΟ SPECIFIC VEHICLES ON AN INDIVIDUAL CASE BASIS.

THE NEW REQUIREMENT WILL HAVE NO EFFECT ON VEHICLES BEFORE JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.

REGISTERED

FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF UNLEADED PETROL ON APRIL 1, ALL PETROL-ENGINED VEHICLES OTHER THAN MOTORCYCLES AND MOTOR TRICYCLES REGISTERED ON OR AFTER JANUARY NEXT YEAR WILL BE REQUIRED ΤΟ USE UNLEADED PETROL EXCLUSIVELY.

EXEMPTION MAY ALSO BE GIVEN, ON INDIVIDUAL MERITS, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.

THESE PROPOSALS

WILL NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON POTENTIAL CAR OWNERS OR OPERATORS AS MOST VEHICLES IMPORTED FROM OVERSEAS ARE ALREADY DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEW EMISSION STANDARDS AND ARE ABLE TO USE UNLEADED PETROL, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

THERE IS NO PROBLEM REGARDING THE SUPPLY OF VEHICLES OF THE SPECIFIED STANDARDS, HE ADDED.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE PROPOSALS AS THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN VEHICLE EMISSIONS,

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