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April 27th, 2008:

Government Go Ahead for Ban On Idling Engines

Apr 27th, 2008
by AdminCTA.
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Government to go ahead with controversial bid to force drivers to switch off vehicles

Liz Heron and Zoe Mak – Updated on Apr 27, 2008 – SCMP

The government has confirmed it will push ahead with a ban on idling engines and says most of the 1,500 submissions received from the public in a five-month consultation supported the idea.

But opponents of the legislation are gearing up for a fight over the scope of the ban. Groups representing taxi and minibus drivers are demanding they be exempt. Green groups are calling on the government not to give in to their demands.

A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said the bill would be introduced to the Legislative Council late this year or early next year. It would provide for fines for drivers who leave their engines running and so contribute to air pollution.

The decision follows 40 meetings with interested parties, including transport trade associations, vehicle suppliers, the Heung Yee Kuk – which represents the traditional New Territories interests – and legislators. Most supported a ban.

“We will formulate a widely supported regulatory framework,” he said. “Our plan is to introduce our legislative proposal to the Legislative Council in 2008 to 2009.”

The ban would cover all parts of Hong Kong and all vehicles except those used for emergency response and other special duties, and those with passengers alighting or boarding. The first two taxis or light buses in a queue would also be spared the ban, which would be enforced by about 200 traffic wardens, with offenders facing a HK$320 fine.

Transport trade associations having already lodged scores of objections and demanded exemptions for various types of vehicle.

At special meetings of Legco’s environmental affairs panel, at least seven associations called for taxis to be exempted, while other trade groups demanded exemptions for public light buses, trucks and buses.

“No taxi drivers agree with this,” said Leung Siu-cheong, of the Taxi Operators Association.

“We are now using liquid petroleum gas for our vehicles and switching the air-conditioning on and off would do no good to the driver. We need to provide our passengers with a comfortable journey.”

Lai Ming-hung, of the Taxi and Public Light Bus Concern Group, said the exemption for queuing vehicles would be unworkable for red minibuses because they do not have assigned stops and buses for different destinations queue together.

Mr Lai said taxis would respond to the queuing rules by driving around the block instead of waiting at a stand, which would only create more congestion and air pollution.

Civic Party legislator Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, the Legco panel’s chairwoman, said: “I don’t think you can exempt a specific category of vehicles. But when it comes to implementation, you will need some kind of allowances, considerations and common sense.”

Amy Ng Yuk-man, of campaign group Clear the Air, said: “If you exempt taxis, you are going to have to exempt buses and minibuses and tour buses. The list goes on.”

Edwin Lau Che-feng, director of Friends of the Earth Hong Kong, said: “The government should not expand the exemptions to further categories of vehicle. If there are more exemptions, the legislation will become ineffective. It needs to be across the board, otherwise motorists will question why one person has to comply with the ban while another does not.”

Roadside Air Pollution More Serious This Year

Apr 27th, 2008
by AdminCTA.
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Liz Heron – SCMP – Updated on Apr 27, 2008

Air pollution recorded at roadside stations was at very high levels for 10.69 per cent of the time in the first quarter of this year – up from 6.48 per cent in the same period last year.

Comparable readings in the medium range fell from 7.17 per cent to 4.29 per cent – with no readings in the low range for either quarter. High levels continued to prevail at more than 85 per cent of the time.

General stations also recorded higher pollution levels, with readings in the high range up from 51.77 per cent to 70.53 per cent of the period and very high readings up from 0.16 per cent to 0.37 per cent.

At very high readings of 101 to 200 on the air pollution index, people with heart or respiratory conditions are advised not to do strenuous outdoor exercise. The high range is from 51 to 100 and the medium range from 26 to 50.

The first quarter also saw hours of reduced visibility – an indicator of particulates or dust in the air – increase by 46.4 per cent to 448 at the Observatory in Tsim Sha Tsui, and at the airport by 11.6 per cent to 807, compared to the same period last year.

Edwin Lau Che-feng, director of Friends of the Earth Hong Kong, said the figures showed that “air pollution in Hong Kong is on a rising trend – and we are using an outdated standard of environmental monitoring. More stringent measures to control air pollution are needed”.

“To have a situation where the roadside API is high or very high for more than 95 per cent of the time should not be acceptable to any person in this wealthy, developed city.”

Amy Ng Yuk-man, of campaign group Clear the Air, said: “These figures show that the government has not yet done enough to reduce air pollution. “The government needs to do more in terms of the power plants, with transportation and also marine pollution.”

But a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said: “In the long run, air quality is primarily affected by emission sources. However, over a short period, say a few days to a few months, air quality can also be significantly affected by meteorological conditions apart from emissions.

“Scientifically, it is not appropriate to gauge air-quality change or the effectiveness of improvement measures by selecting air quality data in a few months and comparing them with the same months of other years.

“Our measurements show that the annual average air-pollution concentrations in 2007 are in general comparable to 2005 and 2006 and better than 2004.”

Battle Lines Drawn In Idling Engines Row

Apr 27th, 2008
by AdminCTA.
No comments yet

Government to go ahead with controversial bid to force drivers to switch off vehicles

Liz Heron and Zoe Mak – SCMP – Updated on Apr 27, 2008

The government has confirmed it will push ahead with a ban on idling engines and says most of the 1,500 submissions received from the public in a five-month consultation supported the idea.

But opponents of the legislation are gearing up for a fight over the scope of the ban. Groups representing taxi and minibus drivers are demanding they be exempt. Green groups are calling on the government not to give in to their demands.

A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said the bill would be introduced to the Legislative Council late this year or early next year. It would provide for fines for drivers who leave their engines running and so contribute to air pollution.

The decision follows 40 meetings with interested parties, including transport trade associations, vehicle suppliers, the Heung Yee Kuk – which represents the traditional New Territories interests – and legislators. Most supported a ban.

“We will formulate a widely supported regulatory framework,” he said. “Our plan is to introduce our legislative proposal to the Legislative Council in 2008 to 2009.”

The ban would cover all parts of Hong Kong and all vehicles except those used for emergency response and other special duties, and those with passengers alighting or boarding. The first two taxis or light buses in a queue would also be spared the ban, which would be enforced by about 200 traffic wardens, with offenders facing a HK$320 fine.

Transport trade associations having already lodged scores of objections and demanded exemptions for various types of vehicle.

At special meetings of Legco’s environmental affairs panel, at least seven associations called for taxis to be exempted, while other trade groups demanded exemptions for public light buses, trucks and buses.

“No taxi drivers agree with this,” said Leung Siu-cheong, of the Taxi Operators Association.

“We are now using liquid petroleum gas for our vehicles and switching the air-conditioning on and off would do no good to the driver. We need to provide our passengers with a comfortable journey.”

Lai Ming-hung, of the Taxi and Public Light Bus Concern Group, said the exemption for queuing vehicles would be unworkable for red minibuses because they do not have assigned stops and buses for different destinations queue together.

Mr Lai said taxis would respond to the queuing rules by driving around the block instead of waiting at a stand, which would only create more congestion and air pollution.

Civic Party legislator Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, the Legco panel’s chairwoman, said: “I don’t think you can exempt a specific category of vehicles. But when it comes to implementation, you will need some kind of allowances, considerations and common sense.”

Amy Ng Yuk-man, of campaign group Clear the Air, said: “If you exempt taxis, you are going to have to exempt buses and minibuses and tour buses. The list goes on.”

Edwin Lau Che-feng, director of Friends of the Earth Hong Kong, said: “The government should not expand the exemptions to further categories of vehicle. If there are more exemptions, the legislation will become ineffective. It needs to be across the board, otherwise motorists will question why one person has to comply with the ban while another does not.”

Banning Idling Engines Will Make A Difference

Apr 27th, 2008
by AdminCTA.
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Updated on Apr 27, 2008 – SCMP

The government’s decision to press ahead with legislation against idling engines is a welcome – although long overdue – step in the battle against air pollution.

Now officials must ensure that the law is introduced in good time and that it contains measures that will prove effective in curbing a practice which wastes energy and is increasingly seen as a form of antisocial behaviour.

Even before the recent public consultation it was clear there was strong public support for a statutory ban on motorists keeping engines running when their vehicles are stationary. Now that the results of the consultation confirm the public backing for the move, the Environmental Protection Department has all the support it needs to go ahead. Officials say the law should be enacted by next year at the latest. It certainly should not take longer than that.

Having taken such a long time to get to this stage, the focus must be on ensuring that the law is not watered down and rendered ineffective by exemptions intended to placate various interest groups – notably the transport sector.

Representatives of truck, taxi and minibus drivers have in the past argued against a ban and succeeded in stalling its introduction. The government went along, arguing that education was more effective than legislation. Now that public momentum is building towards introducing tougher measures, the trade groups are demanding that certain vehicles be exempted. Officials must not give in this time. The law must cover all types of vehicle, with the exception of emergency and special service vehicles such as those for the disabled and elderly. Furthermore, it must be adequately enforced.

It is hard to understand what is so difficult, and harmful to business, about turning a key to cut off an engine. Drivers will save on fuel, and the whole community will benefit from less pollution.

Specious reasons have been advanced, such as discomfort for passengers without constant air-conditioning and the ruinous effects on engines being turned on and off frequently. Drivers should not presume to speak for their passengers, most of whom would support the new law, if the government survey is anything to go by. Indeed, some of the trades’ more reasonable concerns have already been dealt with. For example, the first two taxis or minibuses in a queue will, it seems, be allowed to keep their engines running.

Vehicles are the second-largest source of air pollution in Hong Kong. Of all the measures being proposed to fight pollution, banning idling engines is the easiest and cheapest to achieve. It has the added benefit of being likely to change people’s behaviour if properly enforced. It can help increase awareness of the need for individuals to play their part in conserving energy and reducing air pollution. With a large public mandate, the new law will make a statement that the city is serious about cleaning up the environment.

Air pollution remains a serious problem in Hong Kong. Roadside monitoring stations recorded very high levels for about 11 per cent of the time in the first quarter of this year, up from 6.48 per cent of the time during the same period last year. General stations also saw higher pollution levels, with readings in the high range 70.5 per cent of the time, up from 51.7 per cent a year earlier. Banning idling engines will help make a difference but it will not solve our city’s air pollution problems. A wider range of measures is needed.