XN000022-1972-08-02 — Page 10

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Wednesday, August 2, 1972

PILE DRIVING NOISE "PARTICULARLY TRYING"

The Acting Director of Public Works, the Hon. A.S. Robertson said

today it was felt that proposed new restrictions on piling would not interfere

unduly with building operations or result in an unacceptable rise in building

costs.

He was speaking in the Legislative Council while moving the second

reading of the Summary Offences (Amendment) Bill 1972.

The bill seeks to prohibit piling between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. on working

days and ban it completely on Sundays and public holidays. At present the

only restriction is on noise between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Mr. Robertson said these proposed amendments recognised that "the

noise of pile driving, which was often heard in Hong Kong, could be particularly

trying".

"However, it is proposed that these new restrictions on piling should

not come into effect until June 1, 1973, to minimise the possibility of

contractual problems on current works."

The bill enables the Governor in Council to exempt not only specified

areas or districts, but also specific activities within an area from the provisions

relating to noise.

It also increases the maximum fine for offences under the provisions

relating to noise from $500 to $5,000.

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