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Reaffirming the government's determination to protect environment and to improve air quality, Chief Executive (CE) Donald Tsang of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region yesterday said that financial incentives would be provided to encourage drivers to use environment-friendly vehicles.

 

The government will spend HK$3.2 billion as an incentive for the replacement of 49,000 pre-Euro diesel commercial vehicles in 18 months and 25,000 Euro I vehicles in three years with Euro IV vehicles. But private vehicles, taxi and franchised buses would be excluded.

 

The incentive will be 12 percent of the taxable value for replacing pre-Euro vehicles and 18 percent for replacing Euro I vehicle, ranging between HK$10,000 to HK$200,000.

 

The emissions of respirable suspended particulates and nitrogen oxide of pre-Euro cars were 30 times and two times higher than Euro IV cars, respectively. The emissions of the two pollutants of Euro I cars were 15 times and 1.5 times higher than Euro IV cars, respectively.

 

The emissions of nitrogen oxide would be reduced by 10 percent and respirable suspended particulates by 18 percent upon completion of the program.

 

The government would also give a 30 percent reduction in first registration tax for people purchasing vehicles with low emissions and high-fuel efficiency, subject to a ceiling of HK$50,000 per vehicle.

 

These vehicles should be able to run for 40 percent distance per liter of fuel more than the non-environment-friendly vehicles having the same weight, a government source said.

 

There are about 15 models of such vehicles available in the market.

 

The government, however, would not force drivers to change vehicles, the source said.

 

The government also has no plan asking bus companies to replace the 2,000 pre-Euro and Euro I cars, which could cost HK$5 billion.

 

But the source said pre-Euro and Euro I buses would be banned from entering busy streets, such as Nathan Road and Hennessy Road.

 

The number of these buses entering Central and Causeway Bay had been reduced by 17 percent and 21 percent over the past 10 years.

 

The source also said a three-month consultation would be launched on whether to introduce law banning idling vehicles from running their engines. The number of complaints received related to the problem increased from 258 in 2000 to 308 last year despite the launch of an education campaign.

 

Tsang, who had earlier launched a blue sky campaign, said in a press conference that he acknowledged the importance of environmental protection.

 

He said other initiatives, such as reducing pollutants emission with Guangdong Province and requiring power companies to use cleaner energy, were being taken.

 

The green groups, however, said more proactive measures should be taken to address air pollution. Emphasizing the need for legislation, Friends of the Earth assistant director Edwin Lau said the drivers must be forced to use eco-friendly vehicles.

 

"Especially for bus companies, the government should impose a deadline for changing to Euro IV cars. The bus companies will not change the vehicles unless there are legislations," he said.

 

Lau also said a Euro IV car, costing between HK$400,000 and HK$500,000, was expensive and drivers might not buy new vehicles.

 

The Institute of the Motor Industry Hong Kong vice-chairman Ringo Lee said the 30 per cent first registration tax reduction might not be enough.

 

"If the maintenance cost is high, it will be more expensive to buy a new vehicle," he said.

 

Hong Kong Automobile Association chief executive Andrew Windebank, however, welcomed the initiative saying that drivers are also responsible for keeping the environment clean.

 

WWF Hong Kong said they were disappointed that the government did not set the new air pollution index despite that World Health Organization had adopted a new guideline.

 

Apart from tackling air pollution, the government would prepare legislation for the introduction of producer responsibility scheme by the end of the year, in which plastic bag was included.

 

The government will next month launch a three-month trial scheme on municipal solid waste charging to examine logistical arrangements for waste recovery and disposal in different housing settings.

 

The government also plans to increase the water sewage charge in 10 years to cover the cost.

 

Green Power chief executive Man Chi-sum said he was disappointed that Tsang had not mentioned conservation policy.

 

(China Daily October 12, 2006)