TNAG-1854-FCO40-2629-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 232

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 18 January 1989

香港立法局

一九八九年一月十八日

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(4) Border crossing times are subject to regular review between the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities. Border opening hours have been extended several times. The last extension was on 16 January 1987.

(5) The Hong Kong and Chinese authorities pay particular attention to the needs of travellers at major festive seasons. At Christmas and Chinese New Year, for example, the border crossing times are extended to cope with the heavy traffic demand. During the coming Chinese New Year period the border opening hours will be advanced from 0730 to 0430 on 3, 4, 5 and 6 February and the closing time will be extended beyond 2300 hours on 11, 12 and 13 February. Additional trains will be operated by the Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation and the Guangdong Railway Authority.

Smoke emission test of diesel engined vehicles

10. MR. MCGREGOR asked: Since smoke emission from diesel engined vehicles is one of the major sources of air pollution, and over one-third of the vehicles in Hong Kong are diesel engined, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the total number of vehicles, in particular diesel engined vehicles, which have been called in by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to undergo the smoke emission test since the establishment of the EPD test centre in January 1988 and of the diesel engined vehicles tested how many required repeated testings before they could meet the emission standard of 60 Hartridge Smoke Units;

(b) whether it will consider the imposition of a fine and penalty points on owners of diesel engined vehicles which fail the smoke test more than once within a given period; and taking the vehicles off the road when a certain number of penalty points have accrued, having regard to the similar system which applies to driving offences; and

(c) whether it will consider tightening control over the emission of diesel engined vehicles by increasing the number of checks against emission standards and extending the checks to cover other air pollutants?

SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS: Sir, I will answer Mr. McGREGOR's question seriatim:

(a) In 1988 the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) carried out 8 256 tests on smoky vehicles of which nearly all had diesel engines. Of these,