THE ENVIRONMENT
petrol-fuelled counterparts. The scheme will eliminate most smoky vehicles and contribute to much-needed reductions in health-threatening levels of air pollutants, especially in urban
areas.
The rapid growth of the economy in the past decade has led to a dramatic increase in the demand for road transportation. This demand, accompanied by a high population density, scarce land resources, and inadequate attention and efforts to land-use planning, has made road traffic noise one of the most pervasive forms of pollution in the territory. It is estimated that close to a million people are exposed to a noise level of road traffic higher than 70 dB(A) L10(1hr), which is the standard specified in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines.
To redress the problem, comprehensive plans were developed to tackle it both at source and where it causes disturbance to nearby activities. The resurfacing of noisy road sections with specially-designed surface materials and the control of vehicle noise emissions are the major tools employed to minimise traffic noise at source. Up to 1994, close to 8.5 kilometres of trunk roads had been resurfaced under the Quiet Road Surface Programme, benefiting some 11 000 dwellings.
Legislation, requiring all newly-registered vehicles and motorcycles to meet stringent European and Japanese standards, had also been proposed. It is expected that the controls will be in place by mid-1995.
To reduce the impact of road traffic noise on students, adversely affected classrooms are being acoustically insulated under the Noise Insulation for Schools Programme. At the end of the year, 5 400 classrooms had been acoustically treated, bringing relief to some 250 000 students.
Road traffic noise impacts have been intensified by the introduction of the 24-hour border crossing operation at Lok Ma Chau. Noise from the initial two-kiosk operation was overcome by means of 'quiet' road surfacing material and over two kilometres of road- side barriers. Further studies have been implemented to identify longer term mitigation measures, which would not only address the impact from increased border traffic but help reduce the high prevailing noise levels in the vicinity of the access routes leading to Lok Ma Chau.
Aircraft noise has continued to be a major problem for those who live under the flight paths. The problem has become more acute since new safety requirements have resulted in more aircraft having to land over the densely populated Kowloon peninsula. Interim measures such as the rescheduling of some late evening arrivals to earlier times have been implemented, but the problem cannot be satisfactorily resolved until the airport is relocated at Chek Lap Kok in mid-1997.
In 1994, the Mass Transit Railway Corporation completed noise control work at its depots and started the construction of noise barriers at Heng Fa Chuen. The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation commenced its 10-year noise reduction programme with the construc- tion of a noise barrier at Tai Wo the first of 18 locations. Design work commenced for the second location at Hin Keng.
Controls on the discharge of oily wastes and noxious liquids from ships have been introduced under the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance. Subsidiary regulations have been made to define requirements aboard ocean-going and local vessels to prevent polluting discharges.
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