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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994
MEANS TO REDUCE TRAFFIC NOISE NUISANCE
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FOLLOWING IS A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI-YIN AND A WRITTEN REPLY BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR CANICE MAK, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):
QUESTION : A NUMBER OF MAJOR ROADS IN THE TERRITORY ARE LOCATED NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND THE NOISE GENERATED BY VARIOUS KINDS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT HAS CAUSED MUCH NUISANCE TO THE RESIDENTS NEARBY. IN VIEW OF THIS, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL:
(A) OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS WHICH ARE SITUATED NEAR MAJOR ROADS AND WHERE THE LEVEL OF NOISE NUISANCE HAS EXCEEDED THE STATUTORY LIMIT, THUS AFFECTING THE DAILY LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS; AND
(B)
WHETHER THERE ARE ANY PLANS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, SUCH AS BUILDING ADDITIONAL NOISE BARRIERS TO REDUCE THE NUISANCE TO THE RESIDENTS; IF SO, WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC PROPOSALS AND IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLES; IF NOT, WHAT THE REASONS ARE?
ANSWER:
MR PRESIDENT
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(A) THERE ARE NO STATUTORY LIMITS ON TRAFFIC NOISE GENERATED BY VEHICLES RUNNING ON ROADS. THE IMPACT OF TRAFFIC NOISE ON RESIDENTIAL AREAS IS BEST DEALT WITH AT THE PLANNING STAGE BY ENSURING THAT SUITABLE DISTANCES ARE MAINTAINED BETWEEN MAJOR ROADS AND NOISE SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS. TO THIS END, THE HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES HAVE ADOPTED A NOISE CRITERION OF 70 DB(A) L10 1(H) FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROADS NEAR EXISTING RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. IN SUCH CASES, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT LIAISES WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO WORK OUT MITIGATION MPASURES ΤΟ MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF TRAFFIC NOISE WHEREVER PRACTICABLE. THE TATE'S CAIRN TUNNEL APPROACH ROADS NEAR CHOI HUNG ESTATE AND RICHLAND GARDENS IN KOWLOON ARE GOOD EXAMPLES OF WHERE MITIGATION MEASURES QUIET ROAD SURFACING, BARRIERS AND COVERS
HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED TO REDUCE THE NOISE IMPACT OF A NEW ROAD ON EXISTING PREMISES.
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/(B) THE GOVERNMENT