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SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1975
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NOISY AIR-CONDITIONERS MAY BE DANNED
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AS A FURTHER STEP IN ITS CONTINUING CAMPAIGN AGAINST VARIOUS FORMS OF NOISE POLLUTION, THE GOVERNMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF DRAWING UP LEGISLATION THAT WILL SPECIFICALLY PROHIBIT EXCESSIVE NOISE DY AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT 24 HOURS A DAY,
THIS IS ONE OF THE POINTS CONTAINED IN A LETTER SIGNED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. JAMES ROBSON, AND SENT TO WELL OVER 200 VENTILATION CONTRACTORS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
HE POINTS OUT THAT DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT IS A FREQUENT CAUSE OF COMPLAINTS OF EXCESSIVE NOISE, WITH LARGE INSTALLATIONS FOR HOTELS, CINEMAS, RESTAURANTS AND SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS, CREATING A PARTICULARLY SERIOUS NUISANCE.
MR. ROBSON SAID THAT AT PRESENT IT IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE TO CAUSE EXCESSIVE NOISE BETWEEN 11 PM AND 6 AM.
THE LETTER POINTS OUT THAT CONTRACTORS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT THEIR CLIENTS MAY BE PROSECUTED IF THEIR AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT CAUSES EXCESSIVE NOISE.
+THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT MOST OF THIS NOISE NUISANCE CAN BE AVOIDED IF AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT IS PROPERLY DESIGNED AND INSTALLED, AND CAREFULLY LOCATED, THE LETTER ADDS.
MR. ROBSON CALLS FOR THE CO-OPERATION OF ALL CONTRACTORS CONCERNED IN HELPING TO KEEP THE SOUND LEVEL OF AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT INSTALLED BY THEM WITHIN REASONABLE LIMITS SO AS NOT TO ANNOY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC LIVING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD,
IN THIS WAY, HE SAYS, THE NEED FOR MORE STRINGENT MEASURES BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
THE LETTER NOTES THAT EXCESSIVE NOISE IS BECOMING A SERIOUS NUISANCE IN MOST BUILT-UP AREAS OF HONG KONG AND THE GOVERNMENT, ON THE ADVICE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (EPCOM), INTENDS TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IT CAN TO REDUCE THIS NUISANCE.
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