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Village vehicles on Cheung Chau are generally not allowed to operate on Sundays and public holidays. Photo: Nora Tam

Noise restrictions are in place for Cheung Chau’s village vehicles

We refer to the letters from J. May (“Peaceful island life a myth on Cheung Chau”, May 19) and B. Wong (“Time for noisy island vehicles to be silenced”, May 26) about the noise nuisance caused by village vehicles on Cheung Chau.

The operation of village vehicles is regulated under the Road Traffic (Village Vehicles) Regulations (Cap 374N).

The regulations require that a village vehicle must be issued with a permit by the Transport Department and the operation of this vehicle is then subject to the conditions attached to the permit.

One of the conditions requires that the applicant and the driver should take appropriate measures to minimise the noise from the exhaust, and any other nuisances, during the operation of the village vehicle. Moreover, the permit issued by the department normally imposes conditions to restrict the operating days and hours, as well as the roads on which this vehicle can be driven.

The village vehicles on Cheung Chau are generally not allowed to operate on Sundays and public holidays, except for those approved for providing refuse collection services. If any person contravenes the conditions of the permit, the police can take enforcement action by giving warnings or issuing a summons. The department may also cancel the permit or refuse to renew it.

In the light of complaints about the use of village vehicles outside permitted days/hours and the construction of village vehicles, the police will enhance their enforcement actions.

The department is prepared to arrange to inspect the vehicles and require the owners to immediately rectify any defects found on them as necessary and appropriate.

Regarding the complaint letter in 2015 mentioned by J. May, we are unable to trace it after searching our records. We would be grateful if your correspondent could contact the Transport Department directly by calling 1823 to provide us with details of the complaint for follow up.

Candy Kwok, acting assistant commissioner for transport (New Territories)

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Noise restrictions are in place for Cheung Chau’s village vehicles
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