​The Government tabled before the Legislative Council last month three pieces of subsidiary legislation under the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400), namely the Noise Control (Air Compressors) (Amendment) Regulation 2023, the Noise Control (Hand Held Percussive Breakers) (Amendment) Regulation 2023, and the Noise Control (Construction Work Designated Areas) (Amendment) Notice 2023, in order to respectively amend the subsidiary legislation C, D and L of the Ordinance through the negative vetting procedure. The amendments passed through the scrutiny period yesterday (June 21).
The amended subsidiary legislation C and D of the Ordinance, making reference to the relevant internationally recognised standards, will tighten the noise emission standards for air compressors and hand held percussive breakers by 2 decibels (dB(A)) to 3 dB(A), thus improving the local noise environment.
"The amendment will not affect air compressors and hand held percussive breakers fitted with Noise Emission Labels. A grace period of 12 months after the gazettal will be given to provide ample time for the industry to prepare for the new noise emission standards," a Government spokesman said.
Amendment of the subsidiary legislation L of the Ordinance will establish newly developed built-up areas as designated areas. Communities within the new designated areas will be offered the same protection as those in existing designated areas, so as to reduce the potential construction noise impact. On the other hand, some existing designated areas, where extensive site clearance will be carried out for new town development, will be excluded from the existing coverage of designated areas, in order to reflect changes in actual circumstances as well as avoiding unnecessary constraints on new development projects. The new designated areas will come into effect in phases. The latest designated areas can be found on the Environmental Protection Department's website: (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/noise/help_corner/da.html).
Follow this news feed: East Asia