ENG-1989 — Page 394

THE ENVIRONMENT

1991. During the year, the government's Vehicle Emission Testing Centre in Kowloon tested 16 639 vehicles of which 11 862 passed and 4 777 failed the examinations. 498 vehicle licences were cancelled after the vehicles were not presented for examination. A proposal has been made to increase smoky vehicle testing by designating private car testing centres for this purpose.

Noise Pollution

Following the enactment of the Noise Control Ordinance in July 1988, three statutory Technical Memoranda were passed in December 1988 and the Noise Control (General) Regulations and Noise Control (Appeal Board) Regulations were passed in January 1989. The Director of Environmental Protection was appointed as the Noise Control Authority in February. An Appeal Board was set up in the same month to ensure that the provisions of the ordinance are applied in a fair and reasonable manner.

Noise from general construction work during the restricted hours of 7 pm - 7 am or any time on a general holiday is controlled by a construction noise permit system administered by the EPD with effect from August 17, 1989. Assessment of an application for a permit is based on the noise standards and procedures contained in the Technical Memorandum on Noise from Construction Work other than Percussive Piling. The number and type of powered mechanical equipment to be used is restricted, and whenever practicable, only silenced equipment is permitted to be operated in restricted hours.

Percussive piling is prohibited at night and on holidays. Noise from percussive piling during daytime is controlled by a similar construction noise permit system with effect from November 17, 1989. The period of operation is restricted to three, five or 12 hours depending on the severity of the disturbance caused by the percussive piling to the neighbouring area. The assessment required for the issue of a permit follows the noise criteria and procedures contained in the Technical Memorandum on Noise from Percussive Piling. However, such assessment is subject to appeal under certain conditions. As an alternative, contractors can use quieter piling methods which would cause less noise disturbance in exchange for longer working hours.

Noise emanating from industrial or commercial premises was controlled with effect from November 1989 by means of noise abatement notices, which are issued whenever noise emissions from such premises are found to exceed the criteria set down in the Technical Memorandum for the Assessment of Noise from Places other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites, or are found to be generally annoying. The re- quirements of a noise abatement notice are subject to appeal under certain conditions.

Noise from domestic premises and public places, commonly known as neighbourhood noise, is controlled by the police on a subjective assessment basis. The police are also empowered to carry out enforcement action on breaches of the construction noise per- mit system.

Since the commencement of the major provisions of the Noise Control Ordinance, the EPD processed a total of 848 and 175 applications for construction noise permits for general construction work and percussive piling respectively. Also 32 advisory/warning letters and two noise abatement notices were served when 140 complaints were dealt with by the EPD on noise emanating from industrial or commercial premises.

In addition, before the implementation of the Noise Control Ordinance, 1 530 permitted-work-permits were issued by the Director of Civil Engineering Services under the now-repealed provisions of the Summary Offences Ordinance for the control of construction noise in restricted hours, and 550 complaints and 20 prosecutions on noise

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