In order to reduce emissions from local vehicles, the Government announced the introduction of LPG Vehicle Scheme in the 1999 Policy Address which included:

• Provision of an incentive scheme in 2000 for the replacement of diesel taxis with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) taxis. The LPG taxi incentive scheme was completed at the end of 2003. Nearly all (about 99.9%) taxis had switched to LPG.

• Provision of an incentive scheme in 2002 for replacing diesel light buses with LPG or electric light buses. The scheme is in good progress, there are already over 3,100 LPG light buses in operation in Hong Kong.

Our activities and involvement in this initiative cross into several levels. As Hong Kong's Authority on gas safety, we are closely involved in regulating all the gas safety aspects of the LPG Vehicle Scheme. These include approvals of LPG filling stations and the fuel tank of LPG vehicles, facilitating training of competent vehicle mechanics for maintenance of LPG fuel systems, etc. Additionally, as technical advisor to the government, we advise on engineering and technology issues for the LPG Vehicle Scheme.

Specific activities include:

• The preparation of Code of Practice for construction and maintenance of LPG filling stations.
• The monitoring and supervision of LPG filling stations. We have awarded six contracts on behalf of the government for the construction and operation of twelve dedicated LPG filling stations since 2000. These twelve dedicated LPG filling stations have already been put into operation.
• Granting approvals for the LPG fuel tank of different LPG vehicle models.
• Enlisting suitably trained vehicle mechanics for maintenance of LPG fuel systems.
• Promoting gas safety in the use of LPG vehicles and maintenance of LPG fuel systems.