Anti-light pollution rule for housing may apply to offices
Anti-light-pollution guideline for glass-paned housing could apply to commercial buildings
Light pollution in the city looks set to lessen as the government floats the possibility of extending an upcoming cap on the reflectiveness of glass walls in new residential buildings to commercial properties.
The suggestion came as a lawmaker yesterday brought to light complaints over immense glare from two glass-paned towers, the 88-storey International Finance Centre in Central and the 118-storey International Commerce Centre in West Kowloon.
"Some residents [in Yau Tsim Mong] have complained that the glass curtain walls of ICC reflect sunlight into their homes, affecting their daily lives," James To Kun-sun, of the Democratic Party, told the Legislative Council in a submission.
To said motorists had also complained to him that sunlight reflected from a low angle off the IFC at dusk, making it "hard to keep their eyes open" and threatening road safety.
In response, ICC's management service office said the glass used was considered to have one of the "highest performance and lowest reflection rates" during the early phases of the building's design in 2000. "We are exploring various possible mitigating measures to reduce the alleged nuisance and potential impact."
The Buildings Department, meanwhile, acknowledged it had received complaints over light pollution from the ICC facade, but said it did not keep a record of such statistics.
The department said it had relayed the concerns to ICC developer Sun Hung Kai Properties' Kai Shing Management Services - which, in turn, had appointed an expert to study mitigating actions. SHKP is also a part-owner of the IFC.