Control
Many forms of environmental noise have already been put under statutory control. A key instrument for control is the Noise Control Ordinance, which commenced in 1989.
For immediate access to a brief introduction of the Noise Control Ordinance, please click here.
The Noise Control Ordinance, the Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) Ordinance (For details, please click here) and Road Traffic Ordinance (For details, please click here) contain provisions for the control of environmental noise, generally as shown by the following table:
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Noise
Control Legislation in Effect
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| Noise Control | Legislation | Description of Control | Control Authority |
| General Construction Work | Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400); Noise Control (General) Regulations; Noise Control (Construction Work) Regulation; Noise Control (Construction Work Designated Areas) Notice | Control construction noise from (a) the use of powered mechanical equipment; and (b) the carrying out of certain noisy works in designated areas, between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. and on general holidays, by construction noise permits. Director of Environmental Protection issues permit in accordance with two relevant statutory Technical Memoranda. | Director of Environmental Protection and Commissioner of Police |
| Percussive Piling | Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400); Noise Control (General) Regulations; Noise Control (Appeal Board) Regulations; Noise Control (Amendment) Ordinance | (a) Prohibit percussive piling between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. and on general holidays; and (b) restrict the working hours of percussive piling at other times by construction noise permits. Director of Environmental Protection issues permit in accordance with a relevant statutory Technical Memorandum. | Director of Environmental Protection and Commissioner of Police |
| Industrial and Commercial Activities | Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400); Noise Control (General) Regulations; Noise Control (Appeal Board) Regulations | Control noise from industrial and commercial activities, including ventilation noise, through Noise Abatement Notices. Director of Environmental Protection issues Notices in accordance with a relevant statutory Technical Memorandum. | Director of Environmental Protection |
| Neighborhood Activities | Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400) | Control annoying noise (a) between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. and all times on holidays; and (b) all day for particular types of noise sources. | Commissioner of Police |
| Noisy Products | Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400); Noise Control (Hand Held Percussive Breakers) Regulations; Noise Control (Air Compressors) Regulations | Control the import, manufacture, supply and use of hand held percussive breakers and portable air compressors. Require such noisy construction equipment to comply with a stringent noise emission standard and be fitted with a noise emission label issued by the Director of Environmental Protection before use. | Director of Environmental Protection and Commissioner of Police |
| Individual Motor Vehicles | Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374); Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400); Noise Control (Motor Vehicles) Regulation; Noise Control (Motor Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulation; Road Traffic (Amendment) Ordinance; | Require all motor vehicles, including buses, commercial vehicles, lorries & motor cycles, first registered in Hong Kong to meet with stringent noise emission standards. | Director of Environmental Protection and Commissioner for Transport |
| Road Traffic (Construction & Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations | Prohibit the use of any motor vehicle with no silencer, or with a modified or defective silencer. | Commissioner of Police and Commissioner for Transport | |
| Traffic Management | Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) | Manage traffic on environmental grounds. | Commissioner for Transport |
| Intruder Alarm System | Noise Control Ordinance (Cap. 400) | (a)Limit the sounding of alarms installed in premises to no more than 15 minutes; and (b)require all vehicle alarms not to sound unless the vehicle is being tampered with and the alarm will not sound for more than 5 minutes after being triggered. | Commissioner of Police |
| Aircraft | Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) Ordinance (Cap. 312); Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) (Certification) Regulations; Civil Aviation (Aircraft Noise) (Aircraft Classes) Notice | (a)Require all subsonic narrow-bodied jet aircraft flying in and out of Hong Kong to meet with the most stringent international noise standard; and (b)require all subsonic jet aircraft taking off or landing in Hong Kong to be certificated in accordance with international established procedures. | Director General of Civil Aviation |
| Details of the ordinances and regulations can be found in the "Bilingual Laws Information System" website of the Department of Justice at https://www.elegislation.gov.hk. | |||
Development of New Noise Legislation
The Government will continue to review whether the existing controls on environmental noise are adequate to protect the community. In recent years, the NCO and its subsidiary legislation have been amended to offer better noise protection. Some recent examples include tightening of the noise limits stipulated in the Noise Control (Motor Vehicles) Regulation and holding the management of the corporation explicitly liable for offence committed by the body corporate.