XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 34

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986

32

STEPS TAKEN AT PLANNING STAGE TO CONTROL ROAD NOISE

*****

MEASURES ARE TAKEN AT THE PLANNING STAGE OF NEW ROAD WORKS TO CONTAIN NOISE AND OTHER POLLUTION BY CAREFUL SELECTION OF THE ROUTES AND BY SITING NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AWAY FROM THE ROAD.

THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM DR THE HON DANIEL TSE ON NOISE POLLUTION AFFECTING RESIDENTS LIVING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FLYOVER IN KOWLOON CITY ROAD.

DR TSE QUOTED A DISTRICT BOARD SURVEY WHICH FOUND THE NOISE LEVELS EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM TOLERATION LIMIT STIPULATED IN THE HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES.

MR BARNES SAID IN ADDITION, DURING THE DESIGN STAGE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW WAS NOW CARRIED OUT ON ALL NEW MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS INCLUDING HIGHWAYS AND FLYOVERS.

AN

THE PURPOSE WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS STIPULATED IN THE PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER 1985 WERE MET, WHEREVER PRACTICABLE, BY THE INCORPORATION OF APPROPRIATE NOISE REDUCTION MEASURES.

+SO WE ARE NOW DOING ALL THAT IS REASONABLY POSSIBLE TO AVOID SERIOUS NOISE PROBLEMS WHEN WE BUILD FLYOVERS,+ HE SAID.

THIS HAD NOT ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE IN THE PAST AND COMPLETE AVOIDANCE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN POSSIBLE DUE TO VERY CROWDED CONDITIONS.

+ THE ONLY REAL ANSWER TO THE EXTREME CASES, IN WHICH I WOULD INCLUDE KOWLOON CITY ROAD, LIES IN THE RE-PLANNING AND RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUILDINGS AFFECTED, + MR BARNES SAID.

+BUT WE CAN ONLY ACHIEVE THIS, IF AT ALL, FAIRLY SLOWLY.+ HE SAID HE DID NOT THINK THAT COMPENSATION, EITHER STATUTORY

OR EX-GRATIA, WAS THE ANSWER.

SINCE THE KOWLOON CITY ROAD FLYOVER SYSTEM WAS COMPLETED, OWNERSHIP AND OCCUPATION OF MANY OF THE PROPERTIES AFFECTED HAD CHANGED AND DOUBTLESS WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.

+1 SEE NO WAY IN WHICH A SYSTEM OF EITHER STATUTORY OR EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION PAYMENTS COULD BE OPERATED, HE SAID.

/33