Banner:Database on Particular Policy Issues - Environmental Affairs

Control of vehicle emissions
- Light buses using cleaner fuel


Date Context Summary of development Action
10/99 PA The Chief Executive announced in the 1999 Policy Address the Administration's commitment to launch a trial of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) light buses in 2000. [Policy Address "paragraph 96"]
18.10.00 CQ Dr Hon LAW Chi-kwong raised a question on the use and regulation of rapeseed oil as vehicle fuel. [Hansard "page 58"]
7.11.00 EA,TP The Administration briefed members on the progress of the trial scheme on electric and LPG light buses which had been launched since June 2000. [Paper]
6.2.01 EA The Panel discussed the availability of alternative fuel. [Paper]
14.2.01 CQ Dr Hon LAW Chi-kwong raised a question on the difficulties encountered by the supplier of electric light buses in setting up power charging facilities for electric light buses. [Hansard "page 88"]
3.7.01 EA The Panel discussed the Administration's paper which set out the findings of the trial of alternative-fuelled light buses. [Paper] [Follow-up paper]

Development to date presented in background brief prepared by the Secretariat. [Paper]
25.9.01 EA,TP The Panels continued the discussion on matters relating to alternative-fuelled light buses. [Paper]
22.11.01 PRESS The Administration proposed an incentive scheme to encourage diesel light bus owners of existing diesel public and private light buses to replace their vehicles early with ones that are run on LPG or electricity. [Press Release]
26.11.01 EA,TP The Panels discussed the Administration's paper which set out the proposed incentive scheme to encourage diesel light bus owners to replace their vehicles with ones that are run on LPG or electricity. [Paper]
11.12.01 EA,TP The Panels followed up the discussion at the joint meeting held on 26.11.01 on the Administration's proposal to encourage light buses to use cleaner fuel and met with deputations on the subject. [Paper], [Follow-up paper]
13.6.02 EA,TP The Panels discussed the Administration's paper on the development of the proposed incentive scheme to encourage diesel light bus owners to replace their vehicles with ones that are run on LPG or electricity. [Paper]

Background information on the incentive scheme presented in background brief prepared by the Secretariat. [Paper]

Hon Miriam LAU moved a motion to urge the Administration to include private school buses in the proposed incentive scheme. The motion was unanimously passed by all members present at the meeting. [Minutes "page 10"]

Hon Miriam LAU moved another motion to urge the Administration to extend the deadline of application for incentives. The motion was passed by all members except Hon Emily LAU who voted against it. [Minutes "page 10"]
12.7.02 FC FC approved a commitment of $261 million for providing a one-off grant to encourage owners of diesel public light buses to replace their vehicles early with ones that are run on LPG or electricity. [Paper]

In response to members' concerns raised at the joint Panel meeting held on 13.6.02, the Administration advised that -
  		• the Administration was unable to accede to the request for making available the one-off grant to owners of replacement LPG private school light buses;
  		• the Administration agreed to extend the proposed deadlines of application for the one-off grants by one year.

    6.2.03 EA,TP The Panel discussed the Administration's paper which set out the findings of the feasibility study on introducing LPG light vans and light goods vehicles into Hong Kong. The study concluded that the introduction of LPG light vans and LPG light goods vehicles into Hong Kong was not practicable. [Paper] [Follow-up paper]
    25.6.04 HC HC agreed to set up a subcommittee to scrutinize the following 4 Commencement Notices which were related to the installation of passenger protection equipment, including seat belts and high back seats, on newly registered public light buses (PLBs) -
  		• Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2002 (L.N. 147 of 2002) (Commencement) Notice 2004;
  		• Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2002 (L.N. 148 of 2002) (Commencement) Notice 2004;
  		• Fixed Penalty (Criminal Proceedings) (Amendment) Regulation 2004 (L.N. 103 of 2004) (Commencement) Notice 2004; and
  		• Fixed Penalty (Criminal Proceedings) Ordinance (Cap. 240) - Resolution of the Legislative Council (L.N. 114 of 2004) (Commencement) Notice 2004.

    The Subcommittee on four items of subsidiary legislation relating to the installation of passenger protection equipment on all newly registered public light buses (SUBC) held 1 meeting to meet with deputations and the Administration [Meeting schedule] . In the light of concerns expressed by some PLB operators about the impact of the supply on their eligibility for the grant for conversion of diesel PLBs to LPG PLBs, the Administration agreed to put in place the following administrative arrangements -
  		• a PLB owner whose diesel PLB was reaching the age of 10 years or above by the end of 2004, and who had placed a purchase order for an LPG PLB on or before 31.12.04 for replacing the diesel PLB, might be eligible for the grant for an extended period;
  		• the period of extension would be one year counting from the due date (within 2004) for vehicle examination for the certificate of roadworthiness of the aforesaid diesel PLB;
  		• an application for the grant and the supporting documents had to be submitted on or before 31.12.04; and
  		• the application would be examined on a case-by-case basis.

    SUBC reported its deliberations to HC on 2.7.04. [Report]
    22.11.06 CQ Hon CHOY So-yuk raised a question on regulation of emissions from franchised buses. [Hansard, "Page 76"]


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