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Traffic noise is a major source of noise pollution in Hong Kong. While planning is the most effective means of preventing the problem, control on the noise from vehicles at source is equally important. However, the existing control on vehicle noise is limited and confined only to the mandatory installation of silencers on exhaust pipes. This measure is inadequate in reducing the noise levels of vehicles with inferior noise performance. It is therefore considered necessary to impose stringent but appropriate noise standards on vehicles at the registration stage.
Consequently, I propose to adopt Japanese and European noise emission standards as these are the most stringent in the world. Adoption of these standards enables Hong Kong to keep up with international standards and prevent importation of vehicles with inferior noise performance. In the long run, as old vehicles are replaced by new ones which meet the standards, noise pollution from vehicles can be minimised.
The proposed control will be integrated to form part of the "Motor Vehicle Type Approval" process which currently covers road worthiness and exhaust emission requirements. A noise certification report issued by vehicle manufacturers will be required for each type or model of new motor vehicle before the model can be registered in Hong Kong. The proposed control scheme will not have a major economic implications as over 90% of the new motor vehicles are already able to meet the proposed noise emission standards. On the other hand, imported used vehicles will need to be individually tested at competent testing centres to ascertain that they meet the stipulated emission standards.
The noise emission standards to be applied to newly registered motor vehicles are prescribed in the Noise Control (Motor Vehicles) Regulation, an advance copy of which has been distributed to Members for reference. This Regulation will be tabled before this Council in early 1996 for the proposed control scheme to commence in March 1996. To make this Regulation, the Noise Control Ordinance and the Road Traffic Ordinance have to be amended to empower the Director of Environmental Protection to prescribe the noise emission standards and the Commissioner for Transport to refuse registration of vehicles which do not meet the stipulated standards. These amendments are enshrined in the Noise Control (Amendment) Bill 1995 and the Road Traffic (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1995. I will talk about the Road Traffic (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1995 separately when I move its second reading.