HONG KONG 2004 - The Environment

Hong Kong, like many metropolitan cities in the world, experiences various noise problems, one of which is road traffic noise. Under the existing policy, when planning new roads, the project proponent must ensure that traffic noise will stay below the established noise limits. If it is envisaged that traffic noise will exceed the limits, the project proponent must adopt all practicable direct measures such as adjusting the road alignment, surfacing the roads with low-noise material or erecting noise barriers to reduce the noise impact on the neighbourhood. Where direct measures are inadequate, the project proponent has to provide the affected noise sensitive receivers with indirect mitigation measures in the form of good quality windows and air-conditioning.

To address the noise impact of existing excessively noisy roads, mitigation measures including retrofitting of noise barriers and resurfacing with low noise material are being implemented where practicable. The Government has identified some 30 existing road sections as targets for the retrofitting of noise barriers. The extensive retrofit programme is being carried out in phases, having regard to resource availability. So far, some 70 roads have also been identified as possible targets for resurfacing with low-noise material. The resurfacing programme is in progress and will benefit about 40 000 residential units upon completion. In addition, all high-speed (70km/hr or above) roads have been resurfaced with low-noise material where technically feasible.

To ensure that an individual vehicle does not produce excessive noise, the Government tightened legislation in 2002 requiring all newly registered vehicles to comply with the latest internationally recognised noise standards. The noise standard will continue to be tightened in step with international developments.

Various noise reduction programmes have been implemented by railway operators since the early 1990s to address noise problems along existing railways. So far, noise mitigation projects have brought relief to some 110 000 residents affected by train noise. New railway projects are required to undergo environmental impact assessments to ensure that the noise impact is properly addressed.

Aircraft noise impacts on almost all residents in the vicinity of the flight paths of Hong Kong International Airport are within the planning standard. However, there is still concern about the aircraft noise nuisance, especially during evenings and early mornings. The Government is mindful of the concern and will continue in exploring and implementing all practicable aircraft noise mitigating measures, details of which are given in Chapter 13 (Transport: section on Aircraft Noise Management).

Noise from industrial or commercial activities is controlled by means of noise abatement notices. The EPD will serve abatement notices to require the owners of premises emitting excessive noise to reduce it within a given period. In 2004, the department handled about 4 200 complaints and served some 130 abatement notices, which led to some 40 prosecutions.

Noise from general construction work between 7 pm and 7 am, and on public holidays, is controlled through construction noise permits. The permits restrict the use of equipment according to strict criteria and ban noisy manual activities in built-up areas. Percussive piling is prohibited at night and on public holidays and requires a permit during daytime on any day not being a public holiday. In 2004, some 2 900 permits for general construction work and percussive piling were issued. There were 84 prosecutions for working without permits or violating permit conditions.

The Government has also phased out the use of noisy diesel, steam and pneumatic piling hammers. The law requires hand-held percussive breakers and air compressors for construction to meet strict noise standards and to have 'green' noise emission labels before use. In 2004, about 800 labels were issued.

To deter repeated violations of industrial/commercial and construction noise offences, the Noise Control Ordinance was amended in 2002 to include explicit provisions to hold the top management of a body corporate liable for repeated offences committed by it. The new provisions came into operation in October 2004.

The Police Force handles complaints on intruder alarm and neighbourhood noise from domestic premises and public places. In 2004, the police dealt with some 3 000 complaints and three offenders were convicted.