Butcher's chain stall Hundred Year Food Limited convicted for causing noise nuisance and obstructing enforcement officer

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     A butcher's chain stall operated by Hundred Year Food Limited at Mau Tan Street in Yuen Long caused noise nuisance to nearby residents by persistently playing promotional recordings. Its staff members also obstructed public officers in the execution of duty. The shop and two of its staff members were convicted and fined a total of $10,500 at Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (January 15) and on October 23 and December 4 last year for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO). One of its staff members was also held criminally liable for obstructing a public officer. He was fined $4,000.

     An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that repeated complaints were received from members of the public last year about the noise nuisance caused by the aforementioned butcher's shop by using loudspeakers to play promotional recordings. EPD enforcement officers conducted on-site investigation in March last year and found that a staff member of the shop used a handheld loudspeaker to peddle goods, and it was confirmed that the noise generated caused annoyance after assessment. A staff member of the butcher's shop concerned also refused to provide an identity document to an enforcement officer and delayed a public officer from undertaking law enforcement duties. After that, the shop continued to generate noise nuisance when peddling goods and enforcement action was taken again by EPD officers in April last year. After evidence gathering, the EPD initiated prosecutions against the butcher's shop with repeated contraventions and the staff members concerned under the NCO.

     After a series of enforcement actions, the situation of the aforementioned shop improved. The EPD is highly concerned about the noise nuisance caused by chain stalls in various districts. The EPD will continue to closely monitor and conduct stringent enforcement actions to combat illegal behaviours by stalls.

     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. The spokesman also reminded members of the trade that it is an offence to resist, delay or obstruct a public officer from undertaking law enforcement duties under the NCO, offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000.

Ends/Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Issued at HKT 17:27

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