Person-in-charge of renovation works convicted for generating noise when illegally carrying out renovation works in residential flat during holidays
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     A person-in-charge of renovation works and a worker illegally used powered mechanical equipment when carrying out renovation works in a residential flat on a holiday and caused noise nuisance. They were convicted and fined a total of $10,000 at Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts today (August 26) for contravening the Noise Control Ordinance (NCO).
 
     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that the department has all along been concerned about neighbourhood noise from residential flats, in particular noise from renovation which causes nuisance to the neighbours. At the end of last year, the department received complaints about noise by workers consecutively carrying out renovation works in residential flats during holidays in the newly occupied Yung Ming Court, Tseung Kwan O. EPD enforcement staff conducted a series of blitz operations and found that the aforementioned two persons used a handheld electric cutter to carry out renovation works in a residential flat on a holiday without a valid construction noise permit (CNP) and caused noise nuisance. After collecting evidence, the EPD prosecuted the two persons involved in accordance with the NCO.
 
     The spokesman explained that the NCO aims to protect the public from disturbance of rest. As the use of powered mechanical equipment for carrying out renovation works in a residential flat during the restricted hours (i.e. from 7pm to 7am on the next day or at any time on a general holiday) would cause severe nuisance to nearby residents, a CNP shall not generally be granted. Works contractors should arrange renovation works during the daytime and non-general holidays as far as possible to minimise noise nuisance to the neighbours. Anyone who contravenes the NCO is liable to a maximum fine of $100,000 for the first offence and $200,000 for subsequent convictions.

Ends/Thursday, August 26, 2021
Issued at HKT 16:15

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