Old engines
It is sometimes difficult to understand why the Environmental Protection Department turns a deaf ear to noise generated by large vehicles (like buses), yet gets tough with small vehicles (like private cars), by indicating the need for newly imported private cars to satisfy some degree of environmental regulations.
I say this, because I notice that buses make a lot of noise (which is a means of pollution).
The engines of most buses are antiquated and invariably the noise level is unacceptably high.
A high proportion of buses are poorly maintained and their brakes make a lot of noise when drivers brake.
Because of the physical constraints of our city, our streets are narrow and this noise creates a nuisance for residents. I cannot say what adverse effect these noisy buses have on Hong Kong residents, but one can see that local people are generally poor-tempered.
Maybe the EDP can help alleviate this problem, by taking a serious look at it.
S.K. LEE Pokfulam
