Restaurant in Tsuen Wan convicted for generating excessive noise from its ventilation system
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A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that the department received a complaint in October last year from a resident against the excessive noise emanating from a restaurant located at Sam Pei Square in Tsuen Wan. The investigation conducted by EPD enforcement officers confirmed that the noise generated by the restaurant's ventilation system at night exceeded the statutory limit and a noise abatement notice (NAN) was issued to request for improvement. EPD staff made a follow-up inspection in March this year and found that there was no improvement in the noise level generated from the restaurant's ventilation system at night, which reached 71 decibels after 11pm and exceeded the statutory limit by 16dB. It was comparable to the noise level of a busy traffic street in the daytime, seriously affecting the daily lives of members of the public. The department then initiated prosecution against the owner of the restaurant.
The spokesman reminded all operators of food premises to carry out regular inspection and maintenance of ventilation systems installed at their premises. They should hire a professional contractor to replace the parts and install noise abatement equipment for their ventilation systems to ensure their normal operation and avoid causing noise nuisance to nearby residents.
According to the NCO, anyone who violates the requirements of a noise abatement notice commits an offence. First-time offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $100,000. A maximum fine of $200,000 may be imposed on second or subsequent conviction.
Ends/Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:00
Issued at HKT 16:00
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