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Press
Release
Free tests provided on Vehicle Emission Testing Day
The Environmental
Protection Department (EPD) and the Environmental Hygiene Committee
of the Kowloon City District Council today (July 14) organised a
Vehicle Emission Testing Day outside the Kai Tak Government Building.
Diesel, petrol
and LPG vehicles were offered free emission tests from 10 am to
4 pm. Drivers were informed of the results immediately after the
tests.
Speaking at
the opening ceremony, the Acting Deputy Director of Environmental
Protection, Dr Mike Chiu, said the programme aimed to remind owners
of the importance of proper vehicle maintenance in order to prevent
excessive emission.
With the Hong
Kong Vehicle Repair Merchants Association being one of the organisations
assisted in holding the event, the Vehicle Emission Testing Day
was also part of a partnership programme established between the
EPD and the vehicle repair trade.
"Under the partnership
programme, a collaboration scheme was launched with the Hong Kong
Vehicle Repair Merchants Association in December 2000 to improve
environmental compliance of vehicle repair workshops.
"The ambassadors
of the Association would visit the garages being complained against
and assist the concerned owners to comply with the requirements
of the environmental legislation. The Association would then give
feedback to the EPD," Dr Chiu said.
The EPD and
the Association have also worked out advice on green practices for
reference by the trade practitioners.
In parallel,
the EPD has organised seminars on environmental compliance for the
trade, and developed jointly with the Hong Kong Productivity Council
and the trade a practical technical fix to control air pollution
arising from car spraying operation.
"The partnership
programme is effective, with the number of complaints against garages
for environmental nuisances decreasing from 462 in 2000 to 376 in
2001," Dr Chiu noted.
End/Sunday,
July 14, 2002
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