Hong Kong U-turns on tightening pollution rules for classic cars, keeping exemptions for vehicles aged 30 years or more
- Environmental Protection Department says it has considered views from stakeholders that industry and enthusiasts’ lifestyle will be crippled
- Members from community welcome changes, but some collectors of Japanese cars, which may not fall into age category for exemption, still unhappy
Hong Kong authorities have made a U-turn on tightening pollution rules for classic cars, allowing vehicles aged 30 years or more to be exempted at first registration if owners provide test reports.
The decision would take immediate effect, the Environmental Protection Department said on Wednesday night.
“In response to the opinions and suggestions received from trade and relevant stakeholders, and to strike a balance between the interests from different sectors, the EPD has updated the relevant exemption arrangement,” the statement read, referring to an earlier decision to tighten the exemption for classic cars.
The department announced on May 31 that classic cars and personal-use petrol vehicles would no longer be exempted from air pollution and noise regulations at first registration starting from June 1, citing an upward trend of such exempted vehicles and increasing public concern over noise and emission.
Some car owners might have driven their vehicles for daily purposes, while others had even modified their rides, causing noise nuisance, a spokesman added on Wednesday.
Under the original tightened arrangement, owners will have to test their vehicles for air pollution and noise emission standards to register and drive their cars aged 20 years or above.
Classic cars usually cannot pass Hong Kong emission tests, based on Euro 6, the latest European emission standards, as their parts are outdated.