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Letter to the Editor of SCMP - Response to a letter on vehicle emission standards
I refer to the letter from Ms Joan Tucker entitled "We must tackle Hong Kong's lax vehicle emissions standards" published on 3 June.
We have a standing policy to tighten our emission standards for newly registered vehicles whenever practicable. Because of this policy, our emission standards are one of the most stringent in this region. They are also largely comparable to those of the European Union, the USA including the California. Having noted that the European Union is in the process of upgrading its emission standards to the next level (i.e. Euro V standard), we are also checking with vehicle suppliers about the feasibility making similar upgrading in Hong Kong and will do so as soon as practicable.
As for the control of the emission of in-use vehicles, the programme in Hong Kong is also one of the most stringent. To qualify for their annual licence renewal, commercial vehicles have to pass an emission check administered by the Transport Department. Because of the lower mileage of private cars, this requirement is imposed on those private cars of age over 6 years. In addition, we have been running a smoky vehicle control programme targeting mainly diesel vehicles that emit excessive smoke in their operation. We are one of the very few places that have adopted an advanced test that checks smoke under the on-road driving condition simulated by a dynamometer. Since its introduction, the number of smoky vehicles on the road has reduced by about 80%. At the moment, we are developing a proposal to strengthen the control of emissions from in-use petrol and liquefied petroleum gas vehicles, including the use of roadside remote sensing equipment and dynamometers for emission testing.
On top of the above, we are also undertaking other measures to reduce vehicle emissions for better roadside air quality, which is an aspiration we share strongly with the public.
Mok Wai Chuen
Assistant Director (Air Policy)
Environmental Protection Department
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