The Environmental Protection Department today announced that the Legislative Council has approved the Air Pollution Control (Vehicle Design Standards) (Emission) (Amendment) Regulation 2020, which will help further reduce vehicle emissions.

The regulation will tighten emission standards for first-registered motorcycles to Euro IV from October 1.

Meanwhile, emission standards for first-registered light buses with a design weight of more than 3.5 tonnes and buses with a design weight of not more than nine tonnes will be tightened to Euro VI On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Phase C from March 1, 2021.

To improve roadside air quality and protect public health, the Government has a policy to tighten the emission standards of first-registered motor vehicles with reference to international developments and the supply of compliant vehicles to Hong Kong, the department said.

It pointed out that Euro IV petrol motorcycles emit about 50% less total hydrocarbons, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and about 60% less nitrogen oxides (NOx) from tailpipes in comparison with their Euro III counterparts.

Control on evaporative emission of VOCs and requirements for OBD systems are also incorporated into Euro IV standards to further reduce their emissions.

Compared with their Euro V counterparts, Euro VI heavy duty diesel vehicles, including light buses with a design weight of over 3.5 tonnes and buses with a design weight of not more than nine tonnes, emit about 80% less NOx and 50% less respirable suspended particulates, it added.