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Hong Kong green groups, residents concerned about noise from third runway

Residents of Ma Wan say they're already subject to noise pollution with just two runways going

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Green Sense’s Roy Tam measures decibels. Photo: Dickson Lee

Aviation authorities are being urged to be forthcoming about whether more planes will fly over Ma Wan when the third runway is built, as residents in the Park Island estate on the island are already complaining about worsening noise pollution.

The advocacy group Green Sense said if Shenzhen refused to let Hong Kong use some of its airspace, there would be no option but to have more planes fly over the community of more than 15,000 people.

If that was the case, Green Sense warned, noise may exceed the permitted level set out in the environmental impact assessment report on the runway and it could be challenged in court.

Watch: Hong Kong’s third runway project causes controversy among Ma Wan island residents

There are concerns whether a three-runway system at Chek Lap Kok airport could handle 102 flights an hour, compared with the current 68, an increase that would require Shenzhen to cede some of its airspace to Hong Kong. Officials said they were working to resolve the issue with mainland authorities.

However Park Island residents said they already had enough noise pollution, and said they would protest the HK$14 billion project unless their concerns were addressed.

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