Policy Comments & Advocacy

1. Green Power, a local charitable green group, supports the Proposed Amendments to the Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400) for Control over Domestic Renovation Noise. In view of the dense setting of residential premises in Hong Kong, noise nuisance generated from domestic renovation is of higher impacts to occupants of neighbour units, especially when most of them are back and at rest at night or on holidays. The noise will interfere or interrupt their activities (e.g. studying) and infants, elderlies or recuperating patients are vulnerable. However, we understand that both the issues of controlling noise at source and shortening the operation time of high-noise machines (percussive breakers and percussive drills) should be addressed.

2. We agree to prohibit the use of percussive breakers and percussive drills on Saturdays, Sundays and general holidays. We consider that prior notification should be required with restrictions on the days and hours of operation for the use of percussive breakers and percussive drills. Such notification should be available to neighbour units and property management offices of the buildings to surveil the compliance of workers.  Also, this requirement allows sufficient time for nearby residents to make appropriate arrangements in response to the works schedule of using percussive breakers and percussive drillers.

3. We opine that renovation works of the balconies of residential units should be under the proposed control. We opine that the noise disturbance to neighbour units when using percussive breakers and percussive drills in balconies will be same as when using them within the walled units.