Three vegetable chain stalls convicted for causing noise nuisance
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An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said that the department had repeatedly received complaints from members of the public last year about the excessive noise generated by the vegetable stalls in Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan. The stalls played promotional recordings loudly and continuously from dawn to dusk during operation hours to peddle goods, and the noise adversely affected nearby residents. The EPD conducted enforcement operations in November and December last year. The vegetable stalls, one located at Yuen Long New Street and operated by Ka Wo Farming Limited as well as two stalls located at San Tsuen Street in Tsuen Wan and operated by Ka Wo Farming Limited and Bonnie Vegetables & Fruit Wholesales Limited, ignored the warnings given by the EPD and continued to play promotional recordings loudly by using speakers placed at their front doors. Upon on-site assessment by EPD staff, it was confirmed that the noise generated annoyance and the department subsequently prosecuted the three vegetable stalls under the NCO.
The spokesman reminded the 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 nearby residents. Otherwise, it constitutes an offence and offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $10,000. According to the NCO, company directors could also be prosecuted if their shops contravene the Ordinance repeatedly.
The EPD is concerned about the repeated contraventions by some chain stores by generating excessive noise persistently, which has adversely affected nearby residents. The EPD will closely monitor the noise levels of relevant stalls and conduct stringent enforcement actions to combat the illegal and unethical behaviour.
Ends/Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Issued at HKT 16:48
Issued at HKT 16:48
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