Vegetable chain stall in Yau Ma Tei convicted of causing noise nuisance when playing promotional recordings

     A vegetable chain stall in Yau Ma Tei operated by Farmer House Food Company Limited was convicted and fined $5,400 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (December 10) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO) by causing noise nuisance to nearby residents with loudspeakers constantly playing promotional recordings.

     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that the department received complaints from members of the public and a District Council member in June and July respectively about a vegetable chain stall on Reclamation Street in Yau Ma Tei persistently playing loud promotional recordings with loudspeakers, causing nuisance to nearby residents. Staff of the EPD confirmed that the noise from the aforementioned vegetable chain stall was causing nuisance after conducting investigation and on-site assessment. The department subsequently prosecuted the stall under the NCO.

     Since January 2018, the EPD has stepped up combating noise nuisance caused by stalls playing promotional recordings and there have been a total of 56 convictions with fines of $297,200 in total. In addition to prosecuting non-compliant companies, the EPD will also prosecute their directors in accordance with the law with a view to stiffening penalties and strengthening the deterrent effect.

     The spokesman reminded persons responsible for retail stores and market stalls that when they play promotional recordings to attract customers, they must contain the volume within their store area as far as possible and should not cause noise nuisance to people outside their stores or nearby residents. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000. As for operators or directors of stores with repeated contraventions, they will also be criminally liable for the offence once convicted.