Chain stall director of Bonnie Vegetables and Fruit Wholesale Limited convicted for the second time due to noise annoyance caused by Tsuen Wan outlet
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An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that since last year, the department received complaints continuously from members of the public about the noise nuisance caused by a vegetable chain stall and a butcher's shop in the vicinity of San Tsuen Street and Ho Pui Street in Tsuen Wan. The shops persistently played promotional recordings by using loudspeakers, which adversely affected nearby residents. The EPD conducted various inspections and enforcement operations and raided the vegetable stall and the butcher's shop concerned in March and April respectively. It was found that their loudspeakers generated excessive noise and caused annoyance, and the EPD subsequently prosecuted the stalls concerned under the NCO. Separately, six outlets operated by the vegetable chain stall company concerned, which are located in Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long, Tai Po, Shau Kei Wan and Yau Ma Tei, had been convicted a total of 12 times since last September for contravening the NCO by causing noise nuisance to nearby residents with their loudspeakers persistently playing promotional recordings. Their director was also convicted for the second time on a similar case.
After a series of enforcement actions, the situation of the aforementioned stalls improved. The EPD is highly concerned about the noise nuisance caused by chain stalls in various districts. The department will continue to closely monitor and conduct stringent enforcement action to combat repeated contraventions by these stalls and consider prosecuting the responsible person of the operating company.
The spokesman reminded persons responsible for retail shops and market stalls that when they play promotional recordings to sell goods, they should contain the noise level within their shop area and should not cause annoyance to other people outside their shops or nearby residents. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence, and offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000. For stores with repeated contraventions, the operator himself will also be criminally liable for the offence once convicted.
Ends/Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Issued at HKT 14:00
Issued at HKT 14:00
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