HONG KONG, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government will set out to implement the vehicle replacement plan next April to reduce air pollution in the city, Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Dr. Sarah Liao said here Friday.

The plan includes proposals to provide incentives for the early replacement of diesel vehicles with Euro IV models by next April, aiming to reduce nitrogen oxide and respirable suspended particulate emissions by 18 percent upon completion of this program.

Speaking on a radio talk show today, Liao said the government will consult the Legislative Council on the issue after listening to the trade's views, adding it will take several months to finalize the plan.

Liao said emissions from cross-boundary vehicles using China's mainland's low-quality petrol are major sources of HK's pollution.

She said the HKSAR Government has been in close contact with neighboring Guangdong provincial government on ways to improve the oil quality as the mainland is also exploring ways to produce cleaner oil.

Liao said she has confidence the difference in oil quality between the two places can be resolved but currently it is difficult to ban cross-boundary vehicles from using the low-quality oil. Enditem