The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (July 29) released a consultation paper on proposed revision of existing designated areas established under the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap 400). The proposal aims to cover populated built-up areas in the territory as designated areas. The one-month public consultation will end on August 29, 2022.
 
     A spokesman for the EPD said that construction work designated areas were first established in 1996 by notice in the Gazette for strengthening noise control of construction work during night-time and general holidays in populated built-up areas and were subsequently amended in 2001 and 2009 to expand their coverage taking into account of the development in Hong Kong over the years.
 
     In view of developments in Hong Kong since 2009, the EPD considers it appropriate now to further expand the coverage of designated areas to include more populated built-up areas in the territory. In parallel, to tie in with the construction of new development areas, some areas that are currently designated but are about to have major new developments to be carried out will be excluded. Some major new development areas where population intake is expected to commence in stages will be designated in phases.
 
     The proposed amendment will provide residents in the new designated areas with the same protections against construction noise during night-time and general holidays as those in the existing designated areas. It is estimated that more than 300,000 residents will benefit from the implementation of the proposal.
 
     Under the Ordinance, construction works using powered mechanical equipment may only be carried out between 7pm and 7am, or at any time on a general holiday with a valid construction noise permit. Within a designated area, for the purposes of construction noise permit application, the use of specified powered mechanical equipment and the carrying out of prescribed construction work will be under more stringent noise limits.
 
     The consultation document can be viewed or downloaded from the EPD's website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/noise/pub_consult/noise_consult.html). Public views on the proposed revision can be submitted to the EPD as detailed in the consultation document within the consultation period.

Ends/Friday, July 29, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:05

NNNN