I refer to the letter headlined, 'Wrong to make residents endure dreadful noise' (South China Morning Post, May 13), in which your correspondent, 'Name and Address Supplied', related problems from noise caused by constant renovation and construction works in a residential building. The writer made a number of suggestions for improvement.
Your correspondent is quite right in observing that the emphasis Hong Kong people place on such activities, is moving towards the inclusion of 'quality of life' considerations.
This has been reflected in the increasingly stringent construction noise legislation and higher maximum fines for its contravention as passed by the Legislative Council over the last seven years or so.
In November this year there will be further banning of certain noisy activities during night-times and holidays, including those of the hammering and shovelling referred to by your correspondent.
As for contractors carrying out drilling between 7 in the evening and 7 the following morning, this is already prohibited under the existing law unless a permit has been issued by the Environmental Protection Department (most unlikely for the circumstances as described by your correspondent).
In these cases the local police station should be called to put a stop to such unsociable and illegal behaviour.
