XN000022-1996-03-27 — Page 24

End

9 -

(b) The Customs & Excise Department has stepped up enforcement action to tackle the problem of illicit use of diesel oil. The amount of diesel oil thus seized (excluding seizure of smuggled vehicle diesel oil) increased from 65,000 litres in 1993-94 to 700,000 litres in 1994-95. For the first 11 months of 1995-96, the amount seized further increased to 1.2 million litres. We have earmarked funds in 1996-97 to set up two additional investigation and enforcement teams, comprising 13 officers, in the Department to further strengthen enforcement action in this area, and to tackle the smuggling of vehicle diesel oil from other places into Hong Kong.

(c)

The sulphur contents of marked oil and vehicle diesel oil are limited by law to not more than 0.5% and 0.2% respectively. In fact, the sulphur content of marked oil currently sold in Hong Kong is well below 0.5% (typically being 0.35% only), and some major oil suppliers adopt the 0.2% sulphur content standard for both types of diesel oil. As far as sulphur content is concerned, the impact of the illegal use of marked oil for vehicular purposes on air quality is not significant. This is borne out by the relatively low and stable ambient sulphur dioxide levels recorded by the Environmental Protection Department.

(d)

(i)

ཅ་

(ii)

We have explained the factors affecting the use of vehicle diesel oil in (a) above.

We have not assessed the amount of vehicle diesel oil imported by drivers of cross-border vehicles from China. However, the types of vehicle diesel oil used in China and Hong Kong are similar in terms of sulphur content. There is no evidence to show that the use of such diesel oil from China by cross border vehicles is having a significant effect, as far as sulphur dioxide level is concerned, on the air quality of Hong Kong: and

(iii) There is a limit to the amount of vehicle diesel oil which can be brought in from China by individual types of goods vehicles as stipulated in the Dutiable Commodities Regulations (Cap. 109 sub. leg.). The limits are set based on the cylinder capacity of the vehicles. We have no plan to lower the limits which would otherwise affect cross-border traffic operation. However, the Customs & Excise Department has stepped up its enforcement action against the smuggling of vehicle diesel oil into Hong Kong.