ENG-2006 — Page 349

The Environment I 285

Nearly all of Hong Kong's taxis are now running on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and about 56 per cent of the public light buses are fuelled by LPG. Starting on April 1, 2007, it will be a mandatory requirement for all pre-Euro emission standard diesel vehicles to have particulate reduction devices. Another motor vehicle emission control strategy is to tighten control over smoky vehicles. Under the Smoky Vehicle Control Programme, all vehicles reported must be tested for smoke levels to find out whether the owners have corrected the smoke defects. The number of smoky vehicles on roads has decreased by about 80 per cent since 1999.

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

Indoor Air Quality

To promote good indoor air quality (IAQ) and public awareness of its importance, the Government has introduced an IAQ Management Programme, a core element of which is a voluntary IAQ Certification Scheme for offices and public places that are served by mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems. It aims to recognise good IAQ management practices and to provide incentives for owners of buildings/premises or property management companies to pursue the best level of indoor air quality.

Noise

Road Traffic Noise

Under the existing policy, when planning new roads, the project proponent must ensure that traffic noise will stay below the established noise limits. If traffic noise is expected to exceed the limits, the project proponent must adopt all practicable direct measures to correct the situation, and where direct measures are inadequate, indirect noise-reducing measures must be used.

To address the noise impact, a programme to retrofit roads with noise barriers is being carried out in phases as resources become available. In addition, some 70 local roads have been identified as possible targets for resurfacing with low-noise material. The resurfacing programme is in progress and will benefit about 40 000 residential units upon completion. At the same time, all high-speed (70 kilometres per hour or above) roads were resurfaced with low-noise material wherever it was technically feasible.

To ensure that individual vehicles do not produce excessive noise, the Government tightened legislation in 2002 to require all newly registered vehicles to comply with the latest internationally recognised noise standards.

Railway Noise

Various noise reduction programmes have been implemented by railway operators since the early 1990s to address noise problems along existing railways. So far, noise mitigation projects have brought relief to some 110 000 residents affected