The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Tung Chee Hwa officiated at the opening ceremony of the three-day workshop, entitled "Better Air Quality: Motor Vehicle Control and Technology Workshop".

"It is no good having a hugely successful economy if we do not have a commensurate quality of life which includes clear air, fresh water, and a green and healthy living environment," Tung said.

Controlling vehicle emissions is an important component of the government's comprehensive program to improve the air quality in Hong Kong, he said, adding that from next week, a program will be initiated to retrofit particulate traps on the 42,000 pre-Euro light diesel vehicles in Hong Kong.

A similar retrofitting program for pre-Euro heavy diesel vehicles will also be launched after trials to identify catalytic converters best suited to Hong Kong driving conditions, he added.

In July this year, Hong Kong became the first city in Asia to introduce ultra-low sulfur diesel, according to Tung. A concessionary duty was levied on the fuel to make it price-competitive with the normal diesel on the market at that time.

Jointly organized by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the workshop will provide a forum for local, regional and overseas experts to share their experience and discuss new technologies of reducing motor vehicle emission.

The main topics of the workshop include emissions control and regulations, in-use vehicle testing technology, experience in emissions control in China, diesel emissions exhaust after treatment technology, new property diesel fuels, transport policy and planning, and low emissions vehicles.

(People's Daily)