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■淘汰柴油貨車對物流業界的經營無可避免造成影響。香港文匯報記者歐陽文倩 攝
Offer incentives to help logistics industry replace diesel goods vehicles
環境局考慮立法規定商用柴油貨車車齡上限，並對車齡15年的貨車不續牌，逐步淘汰舊車。柴油貨車為本港路邊空氣主要污染源頭之一，政府鼓勵車主及早更換柴油貨車以改善空氣質素事在必行。不過，換車措施將增加物流業界經營成本，引起業界憂慮，政府應密切和業界商討，制定適合本港的換車車齡。同時，應提供包括貸款和稅務優惠等誘因，吸引車主提早換車。
本港空氣污染問題嚴重，現時商用柴油車輛雖只佔路面車輛約兩成，但氮氧化物及粒子排放量佔整體76%及88%。由柴油引起的懸浮微粒，對人體的傷害遠大於汽油引擎，世界衛生組織於今年6月將柴油廢氣正式列為致癌物，危險性等同石棉、砒霜和煙酒，可引致肺癌，呼籲全球減排。
淘汰柴油貨車是大勢所趨，但落實前需注意運輸物流業界的經營困難，把對業界的影響減到最低。政府於2000年和2002年分別對的士和小巴兩類商業車輛推行過換車資助計劃，成功全面換車，政府應參考過去經驗，以貸款、資助或稅務優惠等形式，吸引車主提早換車，早日落實汽車減排計劃。
The Environment Bureau is thinking about setting a lifespan for diesel commercial goods vehicles through legislation and not renewing the license for vehicles over 15 years of age in order to phase out old vehicles. Diesel goods vehicle is one of the major sources of roadside air pollution in Hong Kong. There is a definite need for the government to encourage owners to replace their diesel goods vehicles as soon as possible to improve air quality. However, replacing the old vehicles will lead to an increase in the operating cost of the logistics industry, which is now a cause for concern. The government should liaise closely with the industry and decide a vehicle lifespan suitable for Hong Kong. Also, it should offer incentives such as financing and tax benefits to lure the owners to replace their vehicles at an earlier stage.
Air pollution is a serious problem in Hong Kong. At present, diesel commercial vehicles represent merely 20% of vehicles running on the road but the nitrogen oxides and particles they produce account for 76% and 88% respectively of overall emission. Suspended particles produced by diesel cause much more greater harm to human being than those produced by gasoline engines. The World Health Organization has officially classified diesel fumes as carcinogen and specified the threat posed by diesel fumes as equivalent to asbestos, selenium, tobacco and alcohol which can cause lung cancer. The organization has called for a reduction of diesel fumes emission around the world.
Although the phasing out of diesel vehicles is a major trend, the difficulties that the logistics industry is going to face must be fully considered before implementing such a move so that the impact on the industry can be minimized. The government launched vehicle replacement financing schemes in 2000 and 2002 for commercial vehicles like taxi and minibus, and had all the vehicles replaced successfully. The government can now base on past experience and offer incentives such as loan, financing or tax benefit to lure the owners to replace their vehicles soonest so that the emission reduction project can go ahead as early as possible.
■Translation by Tung-ming (tungming23@gmail.com)
逢周五見報
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