Experts sound call for tighter construction noise controls

A taskforce is suggested to catch polluters in the act and conduct spot-checks on building sites, along with tougher penalties for subcontractors flouting the law

Environmental lawyers and experts in noise pollution have called for tighter, more targeted law enforcement and a system of spot checks to deter repeat offenders in the construction industry.

Christopher Tung, a specialist in construction and environmental law, said the burden of responsibility should be shifted from the contractor to the developer of a site where environmental laws are breached. He said the issue should be dealt with across the contractual or project chain, instead of focusing only on the main contractor.

'Developers should be penalised for engaging contractors with poor environmental records or even prosecuted for environmental offences on the construction sites of which they are the developer,' he suggested.

'The [penalty system] should also properly target the actual offender for prosecution, which often is the subcontractor and specific workers [rather than the main contractor].'

Li Kai-ming, chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics and an associate professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University's department of mechanical engineering, said a taskforce should be set up to catch polluters in the act.