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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, inspected a roadside air quality monitoring station and visited one of the franchised bus companies to see a supercapacitor bus under trial this afternoon (August 17) to learn more about the operation of monitoring facilities and various measures to improve the air quality so as to help formulate the future blueprint for air policies.
Mr Wong first visited the roadside air quality monitoring station in Central District. He was briefed by staff of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) about the air quality monitoring network in Hong Kong and the daily operation of the monitoring station. Through the air quality monitoring network, the EPD collects data for assessing the impact of air pollution on the public and for use in formulating the air quality management strategy and evaluating its effectiveness. The network also provides members of the public with real-time information on air quality in different districts.
Mr Wong then visited the bus depot of The Kowloon Motor Bus Co (1933) Ltd in Lai Chi Kok where he had a trial ride on a supercapacitor bus to experience its performance.
Mr Wong said he understands that members of the public are very concerned about the air quality in Hong Kong. At present, there are some 5,800 franchised buses in the territory and they are one of the major sources of roadside air pollution at busy corridors. The Government has already implemented additional measures to reduce vehicle emissions and hence improve the roadside air quality.
In order to reduce the nitrogen oxides emissions of the franchised bus fleet, the EPD has started to work jointly with the franchised bus companies since September 2011 to commence a trial to retrofit Euro II and Euro III franchised buses with selective catalytic reduction devices. Together with the diesel particulate filters already installed on the buses, this can upgrade the emission performance of Euro II and Euro III buses to the levels of Euro IV and Euro V buses respectively. Subject to the success of the trial, the Government will fully fund the retrofitting of Euro II and Euro III buses with the devices.
In addition, the Government has funded the franchised bus companies to purchase electric buses (including battery-electric buses and supercapacitor buses) and hybrid buses for trials. As electric buses have zero emissions, the roadside air quality can be significantly improved.
Since 2011, the Government has established pilot low-emission zones for buses at busy corridors in Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok. Franchised buses account for nearly 40 per cent of the traffic flow at busy corridors and the Government's target is to have more low-emission franchised buses (i.e. buses meeting the emission level of Euro IV or above) to run in these designated areas so as to improve roadside air quality. By 2015, only low-emission buses will be allowed in these busy corridors.
To improve roadside air quality, the Government will adopt a multi-pronged approach and continue to implement various measures to reduce emissions by franchised buses.
Ends/Friday, August 17, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:19
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