I REFER to Mr L. N. Parker's letters to these columns, of June 27 and July 4, concerning helicopter noise impact on Wylie Court. The location of a helicopter landing position is of paramount importance when immediate hospitalisation is a priority. Regarding noise, the further away the landing position is from noise sensitive receivers, the better from the point of view of effective noise amelioration. Retrofitting measures useful to reducing noise from helicopters are limited. Helicopter noise is more effectively controlled through conscientious planning (for example, siting of helipad, designating preferred flying routes, etc) than through legislation. There is, therefore, no control provision on noise from helicopters in the Noise Control Ordinance. After all, restricting helicopter movements would be unlikely to be acceptable when there is an emergency situation. To provide relief to residents at Wylie Court, I would support the call to move the helicopter landing position to the northern part of the football pitch, wherever practicable. This would help reduce helicopter noise impact, by providing a larger distance separation between the landing point and nearby noise sensitive receivers, before a purpose-built helipad for hospitalisation service is made available. SAM WONG for Director of Environmental Protection
