XN000022-1995-05-17 — Page 55

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Reply:

(a)

(b)

Mr President,

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there are provisions in existing legislation governing the amount of benzene volatilized within the compound of a petrol station as well as the distance between a petrol station and residential premises; if not, whether the Government will consider introducing legislation to specify the distance between a petrol station and residential premises so as to ensure the safety of the public; and

the Government has considered the effects of such gases on the health of the public, as well as the effects on residential premises in the event of an outbreak of fire in petrol stations?

I would first of all wish to thank the Hon Mrs Peggy Lam for giving me the opportunity of replying to my first Legislative Council question in my new post. I am sure there will be many such occasions in future. I shall try my best to reply to Members' questions in a frank and detailed manner.

The question from the Hon Mrs Lam refers to benzene levels in petrol stations. The standard for benzene quoted by her is proposed by an expert panel in U.K. on the basis that such a level represents an exceedingly small risk to health. Surveys carried out by the Environmental Protection Department show that the general ambient and roadside benzene level in Hong Kong is only about 3-7 ug/m3. Measurements taken near other petrol filling stations also show that the benzene levels are in general within the proposed limit, though there are two instances of excess.

Our laws at present do not control the amount of benzene volatilized within petrol stations. However, the local oil industry has agreed to keep the benzene level in automotive petrol below 5%. This limit is in line with those adopted in Europe, Australia and Japan. Our fuel surveys show that the oil industry has always kept to the agreement and the average benzene content for leaded petrol is 3.2% and unleaded petrol 3.4%.