XN000022-1995-06-28 — Page 68

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Noise pollution caused by offshore activities

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Following is a question by the Hon lee Wing-tat and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

The development of the port has resulted in offshore operation activities (such as public cargo working areas and mid-stream operation berths) being located closer and closer to residential areas. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

Mr President,

(a)

what measures have been put in place to prevent the noise generated by these offshore operations (including the noise caused by machines operation and the use of loud-hailers) from disturbing the nearby residents;

whether restrictions will be imposed on these offshore operations near residential areas between 11 pm and 7 am;

how the relevant legislation will be enforced to prohibit offshore operators from using loud-hailers between 11 pm and 7 am; and

whether the Government has received complaints from residents about noise nuisance generated from the public cargo working areas and mid- stream operation berths in Tsing Yi and Tsuen Wan in the past year; if so, whether prosecutions have been instituted against them?

Noise generated from the operations of the port in the vicinity of residential areas is most effectively mitigated by careful planning to provide an adequate buffer between the noise sources and sensitive receivers - the Environmental Protection Department works closely with other government departments to this end. In addition, noise generated by machines and by loud-hailers is controlled under the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO) (Cap. 400). The Marine Department also meets regularly with barge operators to seek their assistance to restrict the use of loud-hailers at night.