Transport noise affects more than one million people in Hong Kong (see Table). Unlike noise from industrial, commercial, construction and neighbourhood activities, it cannot be controlled effectively through the Noise Control Ordinance. Good planning is the better option and the Environmental Protection Department has intervened in the planning of new residential developments. Despite the constraints of massive road networks, about 90 per cent of new dwellings have been protected from traffic noise above 70 dB(A).

The airport was relocated from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok in 1998, giving relief to 380 000 people who had been exposed to severe aircraft noise. Tighter noise standards have been adopted for the new airport and only limited areas on North Lantau are affected by the noise.

To further reduce aircraft noise, a number of mitigating measures have been adopted. These include a preferential flight path during sensitive hours, the use of noise abatement procedures during take-off and the use of the continuous descend approach during landing. A sophisticated computer-based aircraft noise and flight track monitoring system, with 16 fixed noise monitoring terminals, has been set up by the Civil Aviation Department to monitor aircraft noise at different locations in Hong Kong.