To improve roadside air quality and better safeguard public health, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will launch a new ex-gratia payment scheme starting from October 19 (Monday) with the aim of progressively phasing out by the end of 2027 some 40 000 Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles (DCVs) including diesel goods vehicles, non-franchised buses and light buses. These vehicles were first registered within the period specified in Annex A.
      
     A spokesman for the EPD said today (October 16) that during the implementation of the scheme, eligible vehicle owners should first scrap their DCVs through vehicle scrapping companies registered under the scheme. They should then go to the Transport Department to cancel the registration of their DCVs on or before the deadlines specified in Annex B, and apply for the ex-gratia payment within three months after the cancellation of the vehicle's registration.
      
     "Taking into account the views collected from the trade consultation process, this scheme is designed to be more flexible. For instance, some DCVs, which were originally designed as Euro V DCVs but were first registered on a date within the period as specified in Annex A and classified as Euro IV DCVs, will be categorised as 'Excluded Vehicles' and are not required to be phased out. However, owners of these 'Excluded Vehicles' can choose to scrap and cancel the registration of their vehicles on or before the deadlines specified in Annex B and then apply for the ex-gratia payment. On the other hand, owners of some DCVs, which were originally designed as Euro IV DCVs but were first registered on a date beyond the period as specified in Annex A and classified as Euro V DCVs, can choose to scrap and cancel the registration of their vehicles on or before December 31, 2027, according to this scheme. They can then apply for the ex-gratia payment," the spokesman added. 
 
     Eligible vehicle owners are advised to check the details of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria, application procedures and the latest list of vehicle scrapping companies registered under the scheme, before scrapping their vehicles. Detailed information is available on the EPD's website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/EU4dcv). For enquiries, call 2651 1100 or email EU4dcv@epd.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, October 16, 2020
Issued at HKT 12:00

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