An amended regulation to reduce vehicle emissions by requiring pre-Euro diesel heavy vehicles to be retrofitted with approved emission-reduction devices has been gazetted.

Subject to the Legislative Council's approval, the Air Pollution Control (Emission Reduction Devices for Vehicles) Amendment Regulation 2005 will require owners of all pre-Euro diesel heavy vehicles, except long-idling vehicles, to equip them with the devices starting April 1, 2006.

Vehicle owners failing to install and maintain the approved devices in good working condition will be liable to cancellation or non-renewal of their vehicle licences.

Pre-Euro diesel heavy vehicles include large light buses, good vehicles and buses over four tonnes first registered before April 1, 1995.

The Environmental Protection Department is now launching a retrofitting programme to help long-idling diesel heavy vehicle owners to install emission-reduction devices. It will be finished at the end of this year.