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To address the problems of light nuisance and energy wastage caused by external lighting, the Environment Bureau (ENB) today (January 11) launched the first-ever Charter on External Lighting. Owners of and persons responsible for external lighting installations are invited to switch off lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment during preset times.
Officiating at the launch ceremony, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, said that the ENB has in the past few years been monitoring the nuisance and energy wastage problems that may be caused by external lighting, and has been actively identifying possible solutions to tackle these problems. The Government welcomes and is making every effort to implement the improvement measures proposed by the Task Force on External Lighting last year, including the launch of the Charter with the aim of enhancing public awareness of the issue of external lighting, and gradually bringing in positive changes to mitigate the problems caused by external lighting.
Organisations pledging to sign up to the Charter, which will commence in April this year, would switch off lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment during the preset times. Signatories that comply with the requirement to switch off external lighting from 11pm to 7am will be given the Platinum Award, while those complying with the requirement to switch off external lighting from midnight to 7am will be given the Gold Award. The awards will be presented in 2017.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Chairperson of the Working Group on the Promotion of the Charter on External Lighting, Ms Caroline Mak, pointed out that in finalising the content of the Charter, the Working Group was mindful that a careful balance should be struck between the need to provide residents with an environment conducive to sleep and the operational needs of the business sector, as well as the need to sustain a vibrant image of Hong Kong. With reference to the Task Force's report, the Working Group has put in place exemptions from compliance with the switch-off requirement, including static shopfront signs of shops which remain open during the preset times; lighting for security, safety and operational purposes; and festive lighting during Christmas and New Year.
Apart from launching the Charter, the ENB will also relaunch the Guidelines on Industry Best Practices for External Lighting Installations to promote good practices in the design, installation and operation of external lighting installations in the public and private sectors, including relevant professional associations and trade bodies. As for government properties, the ENB has promulgated guidelines which require all government departments to switch off external lighting with decorative, promotional and advertising purposes at 11pm at all properties owned or managed by the Government, and to observe the good practices in the Guidelines.
Mr Wong said that although the Charter will take effect in April, there are already nearly 1,000 properties and shops that have committed to sign the Charter. These include premises from different sectors such as property development, building management, hotels and catering, retail, banking, travel and cinemas, as well as schools, public utilities and non-governmental organisations. He said he hoped to bring together more organisations and shops in the coming two months to sign up to the Charter on April 1 this year to address the nuisance and energy wastage problems caused by external lighting.
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. The Task Force, having studied international experience and practices and thoroughly considered the views and comments received during the process of the engagement exercise, submitted its report to the Government in April 2015. The report recommended a multi-pronged approach to address the problems caused by external lighting, including the introduction of the Charter to encourage owners of and persons responsible for external lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment to switch off the lighting installations during a preset time. The Government accepted the Task Force's recommendations and set up the Working Group in June 2015 to plan and promote the Charter. The Working Group comprises members from the advertising, catering, property management, hotel and retail sectors, as well as District Councillors.
Ends/Monday, January 11, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:28
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