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The Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, welcomed the report submitted today (April 22) by the Task Force on External Lighting, which contains recommendations to tackle light nuisance and energy wastage that may be caused by external lighting.
"I would like to express my appreciation to the Chairman of the Task Force, Dr Albert Chau, and his fellow members for their efforts and contributions. The issue of external lighting is a complicated one and attracts a wide range of responses from different sectors of the community. I am grateful for the Task Force's recommendations, which have been developed on the basis of thorough studies of overseas regulatory regimes and the particular situation in Hong Kong, as well as the views collected during the three-month engagement exercise conducted by the Task Force. The report represents a pragmatic response to a wide spectrum of views from the public as well as the practical need for actions to alleviate the problems caused by external lighting.
"The Government will study carefully the multi-pronged approach recommended by the Task Force and decide on the way forward with reference to the report's recommendations. We will publish a more detailed response to the report in due course," Mr Wong said.
The Government set up the Task Force in August 2011 to advise it on the appropriate strategy and measures for tackling nuisance and energy wastage problems caused by external lighting, having regard to international experience and practices. Members of the Task Force were drawn from a wide cross section of the community including professional bodies, relevant trades, the academic community and green groups. In August 2013 the Task Force published the Document for Engaging Stakeholders and the Public to invite comments on its proposal for lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes that affect the outdoor environment to be switched off at a preset time in order to address the issues of light nuisance and energy wastage.
Ends/Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:40
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