Quieter Environment

We aim to maintain an acceptable acoustic environment for the community through planning, noise abatement and other controls. Traffic noise is our biggest concern and solutions will be difficult to achieve on existing roads. Construction noise and commercial and industrial noise are addressed through legislative controls and, increasingly, through partnership programmes. These are outlined in the partnership section of this report.

Traffic Noise

We are tackling the problem of traffic noise on three fronts: by preventing excessive traffic noise on new roads, by reducing traffic noise on existing roads, and by controlling the source noise levels of new vehicles.

New roads

We have made good progress in planning against traffic noise. This is done through early intervention in the planning process, for instance in determining the alignments of new roads and lay-outs of new towns. We also advise on the fitting of noise barriers, enclosures and low-noise surfaces on new roads. Between 1986 and 2002, various land-use measures and suitable road re-alignments were adopted, and about 37 kilometres of noise barriers and enclosures were erected along new roads, protecting more than 150 000 dwellings. The use of low-noise surface material is now a standard for new highways with speed limits of 70 kilometers per hour or above. Where these solutions are not feasible or are insufficient in new road projects to protect existing noise sensitive developments, acoustic insulation and air-conditioners are provided as a "last resort" measure. Since 1995, about 6 900 flats have been protected in this way.

Existing roads

A close look of the low-noise road surface showing the open-texture finish

The situation is more difficult on existing roads. In November 2000 the government announced a new policy to reduce noise from existing roads. So far 32 road sections have been deemed suitable for noise barriers or enclosures and 72 roads were deemed suitable for low-noise surfacing. Due to the large scale of the work, the retrofitting barrier work will take more than 10 years to complete, subject to funding allocation. Investigation studies and design work have started for barriers on five existing roads. Work has also started on re-surfacing the first batch of 24 roads with low-noise material, to be completed in 2004. We are also exploring new low-noise surface materials with the Highways Department, to see if a more durable option can be found.

Retrofitting noise barriers - tentative 10-year implementation programme

Despite these measures, another 550 roads still have unacceptable noise levels. In 2002 we looked into traffic management measures on a trial basis. A trial is being planned at Texaco Road, Tsuen Wan in 2003 to evaluate the effectiveness of the traffic management scheme.

Screening structure benefit more people

Vehicle noise regulations

In 2002 the Legislative Council gave the green light to new vehicle noise regulations that we had proposed. These incorporate the latest noise emission standards adopted in Europe and Japan, from where most of Hong Kong's vehicles are imported. Any newly-registered vehicle will have to meet the new standards. The stricter standards are expected to reduce overall traffic noise, as the existing fleet is gradually replaced by quieter vehicles.

Construction Noise

Construction noise is a persistent source of complaint, for which prosecution has not always had the desired deterrent effect. To address the problem, the government proposed an amendment to the Noise Control Ordinance in 2000 to explicitly hold corporate management, such as directors, liable for noise offences committed by their bodies corporate. After negotiations with the industry, the government has agreed to give company directors and senior managers written warning after the first offence and to prosecute only if a second offence or more is committed after receiving the warning. There will also be a two-year time limit to the warning letter. The Legislative Council passed the revised amendment in June 2002. Codes of practice on good management practices to prevent violations under the Noise Control Ordinance are being drafted and the law will be applied after these are completed.

Raising Awareness

The complex nature of noise pollution has led to misunderstandings in the community about the evaluation of noise and how it can be controlled. At the end of 2002 we were putting the finishing touches on our first educational package on environmental noise. The package features a website and CD-ROMs to be distributed to schools and District Offices in early 2003. Animation and graphics are used to help people visualise noise and a simpler version has been prepared specifically for young students. Two seminars were held for teachers in late 2002 to introduce the package to them.