Vehicle emissions are major source of pollution at the street level in Hong Kong. Here you can find out more about them, the government's efforts in reducing their emissions and simple things you can do to help.

Vehicle pollution is a significant problem in urban areas. Of particular concern are emissions from diesel commercial vehicles including trucks, buses and public light buses, which produce large amounts of particulates and nitrogen oxides. A crowded urban environment with busy road traffic like Hong Kong, can trap pollutants at street level. This can increase the ambient temperature and have health implications. What the Government is doing about this now will mean that you have a healthier future.

In 2000, the Environmental Protection Department introduced a comprehensive programme to reduce vehicle emissions. The main initiatives included:

• More stringent fuel and vehicle emission standards.
• Increased vehicle emission inspections and enhanced enforcement against highly polluting vehicles.
• Encouragement to adopt cleaner alternatives to diesel vehicles, such as the use of liquefied petroleum gas for taxis and light buses.
• Installation of old diesel vehicles with devices that, reduce emissions such as particulate traps or catalytic converters.
• Promotion of better vehicle maintenance and eco-driving habits.

Since the implementation of the programme, the number of smoky vehicles has dropped by nearly 80%.

• More on street-level air pollution control
  http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/cleaning_air_atroad.html

The Government now offers tax concessions to encourage the use of environmentally friendly petrol-powered private cars with low emissions and high levels of fuel efficiency. A 30% reduction in the First Registration Tax, subject to a cap of HK$50,000 per car, will be offered to buyers of newly registered environmentally friendly cars. The Environmental Protection Department's website contains further information on how the incentives work and how you can apply for them.

• More on the new tax incentives
  http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/environment_friendly_private_cars.html

Owners who scrap their pre-Euro and Euro I diesel commercial vehicles and replace them with new commercial vehicles that comply with the Euro IV emission standard will receive a one-off grant. The Environmental Protection Department's website contains further information on the incentive scheme and how you can apply for the grant.

• More on the incentive scheme
  http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/old_diesel_com_veh_replace_prog.html

To ensure that heavily polluting vehicles can be quickly identified for remedial action, the Environmental Protection Department has introduced the Smoky Vehicle Control Programme. Trained accredited spotters will report vehicles that emit excessive smoke. Based on the information provided, the Department will require the vehicle to undergo a smoke test at a designated vehicle emission testing centre within a prescribed period.  Failing to do so, or repeated failures in the test will result in cancellation of the vehicle owner's licence.

• More on the Smoky Vehicle Control Programme
  http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/data/emission_control.html
• Further information on spotter training
  http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/how_help/report_pollution/spotter_training.html

There are a few simple things that you can do to help reduce street-level air pollution. The easiest is to reduce your dependence on private cars, taking public transport as far as possible. If you do have to drive yourself, remember that a well-tuned car pollutes less, and that you do not need to leave the engine running when you are waiting to pick up someone else. In just a few small steps you can take long strides towards reducing pollution.

• Greener Transportation
  http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/public/green/greentransport.htm