ENG-2007 — Page 325

The Environment 273

To encourage the supply and use of Euro V diesel, which is a environmentally friendlier fuel with 80 per cent less sulphur content than ultra-low sulphur diesel, the Government is further reducing the duty rate for this fuel for a period of two years, starting from December 1, 2007.

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 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, project proponents are required to assess traffic noise impact when planning new roads and provide necessary direct mitigation measures to abate traffic noise impacts at the noise sensitive receivers within acceptable levels. Where direct measures are inadequate, indirect noise mitigation measures must be used.

To address traffic noise from existing roads, a programme to retrofit noise barriers on noisy road sections is being carried out in phases under the Public Works Programme. About another 70 local roads will be resurfaced with low-noise material to address the traffic noise problem. This resurfacing programme is in progress and will benefit about 40 000 residential units upon completion. All high-speed (70 kilometres/hour or above) roads have been 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.