Mechanics 'fuel pollution'
Incompetent car mechanics have been blamed for pollution.
Pressure group Better Environment claimed yesterday that most garages were ill-equipped and mechanics too ignorant to fine-tune engines properly to stop them producing polluting fumes.
'Even electricians in Hong Kong have to be licensed to operate, but not car mechanics,' chairman and former Democrat legislator Dr John Tse Wing-ling said. 'Basically, anyone can set up a repair garage here.' Better Environment yesterday graduated the first batch of 24 mechanics in a free, three-week fine-tuning course.
Lau Ka-shun, 24, one of the graduates with eight years of experience, said the quality of mechanics varied greatly.
'There are some in the minority who are highly skilled, but even for them they don't have the necessary equipment to work with computerised systems in today's cars,' he said.