$10b boost for green transport
January 16, 2013
Chief Executive CY Leung plans to allocate $10 billion in subsidies to get heavily polluting commercial vehicles off the streets.
Announcing the proposal in his 2013 Policy Address today, the move will subsidise the owners of more than 80,000 pre-Euro and Euro I to III diesel vehicles to phase them out to meet the 2015 and 2020 emission-reduction targets.
He said the scheme will significantly reduce overall particulate and nitrogen oxide emissions by 80% and 30%. He also suggested setting a service-life limit for newly registered diesel commercial vehicles at 15 years.
"Diesel commercial vehicles are a major source of roadside air pollution. The World Health Organisation warned that diesel engine exhaust fumes are carcinogenic.
"In view of the lukewarm response to the voluntary incentive schemes introduced by the Government over the past few years, we must phase out old diesel commercial vehicles with greater financial incentives while putting in place more stringent regulatory measures.
"Our target is to broadly achieve the new air-quality objectives by 2020. Over the past six months, we have made substantial progress, including setting the emission-reduction targets with Guangdong for 2015 and 2020, and enacting legislation to further tighten the emission caps for power plants for the years beyond 2017. Our next priority will be improving roadside air quality."
The Government will help franchised bus, taxi and minibus companies reduce emissions through the retrofitting or replacing of catalytic converters in the coming two to three years.
It will also use more zero-emission electric vehicles, and encourage public bodies and leading enterprises to do the same.
"The Government has set aside funding for franchised bus companies to try electric buses. The Pilot Green Transport Fund is also subsidising the testing of electric taxis, coaches, and goods vehicles. I hope that green transport can be widely used in Hong Kong."
New railways are being developed, and the Government will review other land transport services and rationalise public transport modes' functions and roles.
"Some bus routes overlap or are under-utilised. Our review will proceed on the basis that bus services are a complementary means of public transport. We will explore ways to rationalise bus routing, enhance feeder services, and improve interchange arrangements to reduce roadside pollution."
