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Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Hok-ming and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (November 19):
Question:
Regarding the problem of light pollution, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the current number of large luminous devices installed illegally on the external walls of buildings in the urban areas of Hong Kong, and the anticipated time required to have all such illegal structures removed;
(b) whether it has studied the impact on human health of living under or being exposed to strong light for a long period of time;
(c) of the number of complaints about light pollution received by the relevant government departments since January last year, and how such complaints were handled;
(d) whether it will reconsider, in response to the aspiration of the community, formulating control measures against light pollution; if it will not, of the reasons for that; and
(e) whether it will provide incentives or give advice in the near future to the enterprises concerned to urge them to turn off those non-essential luminous devices installed on the external walls of buildings during late night and early morning hours, or shorten the luminous time of such devices; if it will not, of the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Government has not compiled any statistics on large luminous devices installed illegally on the external walls of buildings. In accordance with the existing policy on removal of unauthorised buildings, the Buildings Department will, depending on individual circumstances, request removal of unauthorised, dangerous or abandoned signboards (including those with large luminous devices) as empowered under the Buildings Ordinance or the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.
According to the Department of Health, there is as yet no definitive medical study indicating that living in an environment with intense outdoor artificial light has adverse health impact. Nevertheless, in view of the energy wastage arising from the excessive use of external lighting, the Government announced in this year's Policy Address that we would conduct a consultancy study on the relevant issue, and assess the feasibility of regulating external lighting by legislation.
In 2007, the Environmental Protection Department received 40 complaints regarding energy wastage or nuisance of lighting. In the first three quarters of 2008, the Department received 50 such complaints. At present, external lighting such as advertisement light boxes and spot lights etc. are subject to regulation by various Government departments including the Buildings Department, the Fire Services Department, the Marine Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Civil Aviation Department, and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for various purposes. All relevant Government departments including the Environmental Protection Department, regulatory authorities and facility managers will continue to respond to and follow up on public complaints against external lighting in accordance with their respective jurisdictions.
The Government is committed to promoting energy conservation and efficiency in the community through various channels. For example, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department wrote to a number of trade associations earlier to encourage them to appeal to their members to reduce unnecessary lighting installations and use lighting products of high energy efficiency. The Department also organised a seminar recently in September 2008 to promote energy efficiency on lighting technology and installations to the trade associations. We will continue our work on this front.
Ends/Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:19
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