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THE ENVIRONMENT

low sulphur diesel, which has a sulphur content of less than 0.005 per cent, for use in motor vehicles. Through the introduction of a concessionary duty on the environmentally cleaner fuel, the new fuel has become available at all petrol filling stations since August.

As regards emission standards, all new diesel private cars must meet stringent emission standards imposed since April 1998. This has virtually halted the registration of new diesel private cars. All new diesel vehicles must meet Euro III emission standards from 2001. It has been made a requirement that all new private petrol cars must be fitted with a catalytic converter. From November 2000, all new petrol or liquefied petroleum gas vehicles have to undergo an emission test for licence renewal. Cleaner fuels and tighter emission standards introduced in the past few years have significantly reduced pollution from motor vehicles.

To deal with the problem of in-use diesel vehicles, the Government's policy is to replace them with cleaner alternatives where practicable and to retrofit them. with emission reduction devices. Grants are being provided to encourage owners of the 18 000 diesel taxis to replace their vehicles with ones that run on liquefied petroleum gas. Since the disbursement of grants began in August, over 3 500 diesel taxis had been replaced by liquefied petroleum gas taxis by the end of November. Subject to the outcome of a trial, similar financial incentives would be provided to encourage owners of diesel light buses to switch to environmentally cleaner models. A retrofitting programme that the Government is running involves equipping 42 000 pre-Euro diesel light vehicles with particulate traps and catalysts by end-2001. A trial of catalytic converters for pre-Euro heavy diesel vehicles is also being conducted. Subject to satisfactory results of the trial, the Government will provide financial assistance to owners of such vehicles to retrofit their vehicles with suitable catalytic

converters.

Another motor vehicle emission control strategy the Government is pursuing is to tighten the control against smoky vehicles. A scheme for reporting smoky vehicles has been running since 1988. All vehicles reported under the scheme must be examined at designated test centres to confirm that the vehicle owners have rectified the smoke defects. The scheme conducted 46 263 tests in 2000. Beginning in September 1999, smoky goods vehicles of 5.5 tonnes or below are tested by an advanced chassis dynamometer to check smoke emissions. The next step is to extend this method to larger vehicles.

Apart from having cleaner vehicles and cleaner fuels, it is essential to promote other mass transit systems that are pollution-free at street level. The Government has adopted a policy that gives priority to rail over road, and to encourage innovations wherever practical.

Control of Environmental Asbestos

Hong Kong has strict control on the use and handling of asbestos. Since May 1996, the Air Pollution Control Ordinance has banned the import and sale of the more dangerous types of asbestos, namely amosite and crocidolite. It also provides for the control on activities that might lead to asbestos dust emissions. Anyone intending to remove asbestos, except for the low risk asbestos-containing materials, must engage registered professionals, and submit asbestos investigation reports and asbestos abatement plans to the EPD. The department also carries out regular inspections to ensure material containing asbestos is handled and disposed of properly.