ENG-2012 — Page 292

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The Environment

In 2012, the department handled some 13,000 complaints of air pollution and issued about 100 legal notices instructing offenders to abate air pollution.

Transport

Vehicle emissions are the major source of air pollution experienced at roadsides. The Government's policy is to apply the most stringent motor vehicle fuel and emission standards whenever they are practicable. Between 1999 and 2012, the concentrations of RSP, SO2 and NOx at roadsides, fell by 42 per cent, 63 per cent and 31 per cent respectively. Since June 2012, all newly registered vehicles are required to comply with the Euro V standards. Newly registered diesel private cars must meet emission standards comparable to those of petrol private cars as diesel vehicles emit more NOx than petrol vehicles, which is a major contributor to smog. To encourage the supply and use of Euro V diesel, the Government waived the tax for Euro V diesel in July 2008. Motor vehicle diesel and unleaded petrol standards were tightened to Euro V specifications and statutory control of the quality of motor vehicle biodiesel was introduced in

2010.

Nearly all of Hong Kong's taxis and over 60 per cent of public light buses now run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). To encourage the use of environment-friendly vehicles with low emissions. and high fuel efficiency, the First Registration Tax is reduced for buyers of newly registered environment-friendly vehicles. An incentive scheme to encourage early replacement of pre- Euro and Euro I diesel commercial vehicles ended in March 2010, and the Government launched a similar scheme for Euro Il diesel commercial vehicles from July 2010 for a period of 36 months. The Government's $300 million 'Pilot Green Transport Fund' subsidises the public transport sectors and goods vehicle owners to try out green innovative transport technologies.

The Government also promotes the use of electric vehicles (EV) in Hong Kong, with an exemption of the First Registration Tax for electric vehicles extended to March 2014. Various EV models have been launched in the Hong Kong market and more than 1,000 charging points are in place for use by the general public.

The Government has stringent controls against diesel vehicles with excessive smoke. Such vehicles must pass a smoke test with the aid of chassis dynamometer to ascertain whether the defects have been rectified. In 2012, 7,932 smoky vehicles were reported, about 80 per cent fewer than in 1999.

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

Besides land transport, marine vessels are also a major emission source. The Government has implemented a series of measures to control marine emissions, including the MARPOL Annex VI requirements and upgrading marine fuel standards. In September, EPD and the Marine Department launched a three-year Port Facilities and Light Dues Incentive Scheme to encourage ocean-going vessels to use cleaner fuel while berthing in Hong Kong waters.

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