XN000022-1988-06-08 — Page 6

5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1988

THAT A

"THESE NOTICES WILL REQUIRE OWNERS OR OCCUPIERS TO ENSURE THEIR NOISE EMISSIONS COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NOTICE BY SPECIFIED DATE; NON-COMPLIANCE WILL BE AN OFFENCE.

11

THE

NEW POWERS WERE INCLUDED IN PART III OF THE BILL TO ENABLE CONTROL OF NOISE FROM INDIVIDUAL ITEMS OF PLANT OR MACHINERY, SUCH GENERATORS AND COMPRESSORS, WHICH WOULD BE PRESCRIBED IN REGULATIONS

TO BE MADE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL. MR CHAMBERS NOTED.

AS

WHEN

CONTROL

"IT IS INTENDED THAT THESE PROVISIONS WILL ONLY BE USED TECHNICAL OR ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES MAKE OTHER FORMS OF INAPPROPRIATE,"

TURNING TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE BILL, MR CHAMBERS SAID ITS PROVISIONS, EXCEPT THOSE DEALING WITH GENERAL NEIGHBOURHOOD NOISE, WOULD BE ENFORCED BY A NOISE CONTROL AUTHORITY TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR UNDER CLAUSE 3.

THE DIRECTOR OF AUTHORITY FOR THIS PURPOSE.

ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION WOULD BE

THR

"TO ENSURE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL WILL BE ENFORCED A FAIR AND REASONABLE MANNER, PART IV OF THE BILL PROVIDES FOR APPOINTMENT OF AN APPEAL BOARD BY THE GOVERNOR, MR CHAMBERS SAID.

IN

THE

"APPEALS CAN BE MADE AGAINST THE SERVICE OF NOISE ABATEMENT NOTICES, REFUSAL TO ISSUE PILING PERMITS OR AGAINST THE CONDITIONS SUCH A PERMIT.

**

OF

COMMENTING ON THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE LEGISLATION, MR CHAMBERS SAID AN ASSESSMENT OF THE COST IMPACT OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL ON THE POTENTIALLY MOST AFFECTED CATEGORIES OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY WAS CARRIED OUT BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL.

THE STUDY SHOWED THAT THE COST IMPACT ON MANUFACTURERS SHOULD NOT IN GENERAL BE SIGNIFICANT WHEN COMPARED WITH OVERALL OPERATING COSTS.

WITH REGARD TO THE CONTROL OF PILING NOISE, THE EFFECT OF TIGHTENING THE CONTROLS ON PERCUSSIVE PILING DURING THE DAYTIME WOULD AT LEAST PARTIALLY BE OFFSET BY THE RELAXATION OF CONTROLS ON NON-PERCUSSIVE PILING DURING THE NIGHT.

"WK DO NOT BELIEVE

THAT THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THIS LEGISLATION WILL HE SERIOUS, MR CHAMBERS REMARKED.

"I COMMEND THIS BILL TO MEMBERS AS AN IMPORTANT AND EFFECTIVE ADDITION TO THE BODY OF LEGISLATION AIMED AT REDUCING VARIOUS FORMS OF POLLUTION.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

16