The proposal to ban idling vehicles with running engines has been revised, Acting Secretary for the Environment Dr Kitty Poon says, adding the Government will meet the transport trade to discuss it.

Speaking to reporters today, Dr Poon said the Government has given due consideration to the industry's practical needs and has proposed appropriate exemptions to meet operators' demands.

It will discuss the details with the trade in the coming two days. The revised proposal together with the consultation results will then be submitted to the Legislative Council's Environmental Affairs Panel for discussion later this month.

Noting the public generally support the proposed ban, and the revised version can balance the trade's needs and the city's environmental aspiration, Dr Poon hoped the legislative process could start this year.

The Government launched a five-month public consultation on the proposal in November 2007. The consultation document suggested if a driver does not switch off a vehicle's engine when it is idle, they will be served with a fixed-penalty ticket. For more details of the document, click here.