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In response to media enquiries on the lightings at the turf pitches of Po Kong Village Road Park, a spokesman for the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) said today (August 11):
The LCSD understands some residents' concerns about the lightings at the turf pitches of Po Kong Village Road Park. Although it has not been opened for public use, the department has already implemented a number of measures to minimise the glare impact on nearby residents, while balancing public demands on turf pitches and ensuring users' safety.
With an area of 4.5 hectares, the Po Kong Village Road Park is located on Po King Village Road in Diamond Hill, Wong Tai Sin, adjacent to the Po Kong Village Road School Village. Phase one of the park provides various recreational facilities including multi-purpose third generation artificial turf pitches with a 1000-seat covered spectator stand, 650-metre all weather jogging trail, a renewable energy area with the theme of environmental protection, as well as a fitness corner and a children's playground for different age groups. Phase one facilities have just been completed and will be opened for public use in early September this year.
The turf pitches are designed as a multi-purpose sport area and can be converted to two 11-a-side soccer pitches, two rugby pitches or a cricket field. In consultation with relevant national sports associations, the works department has decided to provide adequate lightings with luminosity in three levels ranging from 200 to 750 lux to meet the safety requirements of different sport activities and matches. During the design stage for the multi-purpose artificial turf pitches of the park, the works department has studied in depth the floodlights to be used and has chosen those lightings with anti-glare baffles built in, with a view to lower the luminosity of the floodlights as far as possible.
The contractor has tested the lighting system of the pitches following the completion of the construction work early this year. To address some nearby residents' concerns on the luminosity of the lightings, the angle of elevation of the floodlights has been properly adjusted to concentrate the illumination on the pitches. In addition, the floodlights have been installed with external anti-glare baffles to further reduce glare influence on nearby residents. Furthermore, to minimise the impact on the nearby residents, the luminosity of the floodlights at the pitches will be maintained at 200 lux for practices on sport. Such lux level is similar to those commonly adopted in other pitches. The relevant national sport associations have also agreed not to host major competitions at the venue as far as possible.
LCSD consulted nearby residents on the luminosity of the floodlights at the pitches in June this year and also sought advice from Wong Tai Sin District Council at a meeting on July 20. The council agreed that the hours available for use of the pitches be changed from 8am until 11 pm normally to 7.30am until 10.30pm, thereby shortening the time for the use of the floodlights during evenings.
The pitches will be opened for public use in early September. The LCSD will closely monitor the usage of the facility and maintain communication with residents and will also consider other feasible measures when necessary in order to strike a balance among different needs of the public.
Ends/Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Issued at HKT 22:10
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