Govt proposes ban on loudspeakers for peddling
The government has proposed banning the use of loudspeakers for peddling as well as relaxing noise restrictions during holiday periods in amendments to the Noise Control Ordinance. According to a consultation paper published by the Environmental Protection Department on Wednesday, the ban will cover shops and hawkers such as vegetable and meat stalls, bars and restaurants; temporary street booths/roadside publicity vans/food trucks; as well as outdoor large-scale screens of shopping centres/outdoor electronic display "using loudspeakers for peddling that is audible from any public place for the purpose of attracting attention to their goods, wares or trade". Officials want to introduce a fixed penalty of HK$10,000 for loudspeaker peddling, as well as for noise nuisance from domestic premises and other public places. The department said the number of complaints against peddling noise nearly tripled in recent years, from 197 in 2017 to 544 in 2022, with residents in busy districts such as Mong Kok and Tsuen Wan affected the most. Officials also proposed raising the fines of other noise-related offences, saying the maximum penalties under the Noise Control Ordinance have not changed since 1994. Meanwhile, the department said it wants to relax noise restrictions for festive celebration activities such as music, singing and performing activities, by extending such activities from 11pm to 1am on 10 specific dates, such as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and Lunar New Year's Eve and Lunar New Year's Day. "As such activities are mostly held during holidays for a short period of time with temporary impact, the public usually has a higher tolerance level to these activities. On the other hand, festive celebration activities can enrich the vibrancy of Hong Kong and promote its image as an international metropolis," the consultation paper says. But participants must keep their noise level to no more than 10dB above the background noise level.  A public consultation exercise will last for two months until October 8.