XN000022-1996-01-10 — Page 4

3 -

Tighter control on construction noise

A new regulation aiming to put further control on noise from construction work will be gazetted on Friday (January 12).

"Certain manual construction activities, such as hammering, rubble disposal through metal chutes and the handling of steel bars, as listed under the Noise Control (Construction Work) Regulation, which have been a long standing source of disturbance for many people, will no longer be permitted in designated areas during noise sensitive hours.

"The new regulation should bring welcome relief to them," acting Principal Environmental Protection Officer of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Mr Sam Wong Wai-hong, said today (Wednesday).

"Permits for the carrying out of these activities would not normally be granted except for very special circumstances, such as urgent road maintenance and repairs to water, gas and electric utilities in busy roads, or for those employing particularly quiet construction methods," he said.

"Through a new Technical Memorandum, we have also tightened up control on the use of five items of powered mechanical equipment including vibratory pokers, jackhammers, bulldozers, concrete mixer lorries and dump trucks in designated areas. The control will be the same as the other powered mechanical equipment covered by the existing permit system, but with a much more stringent noise limit."

For the purpose of this regulation, the noise sensitive hours are defined as those between 7 pm and 7 am on weekdays, and at any time during general holidays, including Sundays.

Designated areas as referred to under the regulation cover generally the residential districts of Hong Kong, Kowloon and new towns in the New Territories. Maps showing the designated areas are now available for inspection at EPD's Local Control Offices.

To allow time for the construction industry to prepare for these new controls, the regulation will not come into effect until November 1, 1996.

"Anyone who breaches the regulation is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 on first conviction and $200,000 on second or subsequent convictions," Mr Wong said.

End