ENG-1990 — Page 424

THE ENVIRONMENT

to help achieve compliance with the statutory requirements. During the year, some 7 067 inspections were made, 1974 complaints were investigated, and advice was given on 978 occasions to help rectify localised air pollution problems without recourse to legal action. Despite these efforts, the EPD was still required to take out 295 prosecutions for non- compliance with the APCO and its subsidiary regulations.

Noise Pollution

In view of Hong Kong's high-density living environment, noise problems are inevitably a concern in our daily lives. Hong Kong's first piece of comprehensive legislation on environmental noise control, the Noise Control Ordinance, was enacted in 1988. The main provisions of the Noise Control Ordinance concerning construction, industrial and neighbourhood noise control came into operation in stages in 1989 following the making of the necessary regulations.

Noise from powered mechanical equipment used in general construction work is con- trolled by a construction noise permit system administered by the EPD. Operation of the equipment between 7 pm and 7 am or on general holidays including Sundays is allowed only if a permit has been issued. Permit applications are assessed under the strict criteria and noise standards contained in a statutory Technical Memorandum. Permits generally limit the number and type of equipment that may be used and, whenever practicable, specify the use of silenced equipment and noise reduction measures to minimise noise impact. During the year, 1897 permit applications were processed and 1403 permits were issued.

Percussive piling is prohibited between 7 pm and 7 am and on general holidays including Sundays. The operation of percussive piling at other times is controlled by means of a similar construction noise permit system. Percussive piling operation may be restricted to three, five and 12 hours per day depending on the degree of noise disturbance to the neighbourhood. Permit applications are assessed in accordance with the procedures con- tained in another Technical Memorandum. The control embodied in this memorandum encourages the use of quiet piling alternatives which would cause less noise disturbance, in exchange for longer operating hours. During the year, 607 permit applications were processed and 605 permits issued.

Noise from industrial, commercial, trade or business premises is controlled by means of noise abatement notices, which are issued whenever noise emissions from such premises are proved to exceed certain noise standards or found to be subjectively annoying. A noise abatement notice may require the owner or occupier of the premises to reduce the noise emissions by a certain date. During the year, the EPD investigated 2 190 industrial noise complaints resulting in the issue of 154 noise abatement notices.

The control provisions in the Noise Control Ordinance relating to noise from domestic premises and public places are enforced by the police on a subjective assessment basis. The police are also empowered to carry out enforcement action on breaches of the construction noise control provisions of the ordinance.

Wastes: Provision of Facilities and Services

Overall Strategies

Municipal waste is forecast to increase by 40 per cent over the next 15 years and by the year 2006 some 21 000 tonnes of municipal waste (excluding pulverised fuel ash (PFA) and

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