5 NOISE IMPACT

5.1 Legislation and Standards

General

5.1.1 The relevant legislation and associated guidance applicable to present the study for the assessment of noise impacts include:

(1) Noise Control Ordinance (NCO) (Cap.400);

(2) Technical Memorandum (TM) on Noise from Construction Work other than Percussive Piling (TM-GW);

(3) TM on Noise from Percussive Piling (TM-PP);

(4) TM on Noise on Construction Work in Designated Areas (TM-DA);

(5) TM on Noise from Places other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites (TM-Places);

(6) EIAO (Cap. 499) and TM-EIAO;

(7) Hong Kong Planning Standards Guidelines (HKPSG); and

(8) Noise Control Guidelines for Holding Open Air Entertainment Activities.

Construction Noise

5.1.2 The NCO provides the statutory framework for noise control in Hong Kong. Assessment procedures and standards are set out in the respective TM promulgated under NCO.

5.1.3 To ensure a better environment, the TM-EIAO promulgated under the EIAO has imposed more stringent criteria. For construction, there is no statutory limit on daytime construction noise under the NCO and related TMs. Nevertheless, the TM-EIAO stipulates criteria of 65 – 75 dB(A) for daytime construction activities, as shown in the Table 5.1.

Table 5.1: Noise standards for construction activities

Uses	Noise Standards^[1], L_eq _(30mins) dB(A)
Uses	0700 to 1900 hours on any day not being a Sunday or general holiday
All domestic premises including temporary housing accommodation	75
Hotels and hostels	75
Educational institutions including kindergartens, nurseries and all others where unaided voice communication is required	70 65 (During examinations)

Note:

[1] The above standards apply to uses that rely on opened windows for ventilation.

Construction Noise During Restricted Hours

5.1.4 The NCO also provides statutory control on general construction works during restricted hours (i.e. 1900 to 0700 hours (of the next day) from Monday to Saturday and at any time on Sundays or public holidays). The use of Powered Mechanical Equipment (PME) for construction works during restricted hours would require a Construction Noise Permit (CNP). The TM-GW details the procedures adopted by EPD for assessing such application. The granting of a CNP is subject to conditions stated in the CNP and it may be revoked at any time for failure to comply with the permit conditions.

5.1.5 In addition to the general controls on the use of PME during restricted hours, the use of Specified Powered Mechanical Equipment (SPME) and the undertaking of Prescribed Construction Work (PCW) during the restricted hours in a designated area are controlled by the TM-DA. Construction plant or equipment classified as SPME under the TM-DA includes hand-held breakers, bulldozers, concrete mixer lorries, dump trucks and poker vibrators. The PCW includes the erection or dismantling of formwork or scaffolding, hammering, handling of rubble, wooden boards, steel bars, or scaffolding material, and the disposal of rubble through plastic chutes.

5.1.6 The TM-DA details the procedures that should generally be adopted by the Authority for assessing the use of SPME during restricted hours and for determining whether a CNP would be issued.

5.1.7 Maximum noise levels from construction activities during restricted hours at affected Noise Sensitive Receivers (NSRs) are controlled under the TMs and shall not exceed the specified Acceptable Noise Levels (ANLs). These ANLs are stipulated in accordance with the Area Sensitivity Ratings established for the NSRs. The ANLs for construction works in Designated Areas are more stringent than those given in the GW-TM and are summarised in Table 5.2.

Table 5.2: ANLs for construction during restricted hours

Time Period	ANLs for Area Sensitive Ratings^[1], dB(A)
Time Period	A	B	C
All weekdays during the evening (1900 to 2300 hours), and general holidays (including Sundays) during the day and evening (0700 to 2300 hours)	60 (45)	65 (50)	70 (55)
All days during the night-time (2300 to 0700 hours)	45 (30)	50 (35)	55 (40)

Note:

[1] Figures in brackets are ANLs for SPME construction work in designated areas.

5.1.8 As defined in the Noise Control Designated Area Plan No. EPD/AN/K & NT-02, Kowloon East areas such as Shun Lee Estate, Shun Tin Estate, Shun On Estate, Sau Mau Ping Estate, Sau Mau Ping South Estate, Po Tat Estate etc are within the Designated Area.

5.1.9 Despite any description made in this report, there is no guarantee that a CNP will be issued for the project construction. The Noise Control Authority will consider a well-justified CNP application, once filed, for construction works within restricted hours as guided by the relevant TMs issued under the NCO. The Noise Control Authority will take into account contemporary conditions / situations of adjoining land uses and any previous complaints against construction activities at the site before making a decision in granting a CNP. Nothing in the report shall bind the Noise Control Authority in making a decision. If a CNP is to be issued, the Noise Control Authority shall include in it any conditions it may demand. Failure to comply with any such conditions will lead to cancellation of the CNP and prosecution under the NCO.

Percussive Piling

5.1.10 Under the TM-PP, CNPs are also required for percussive piling works, involving the use of diesel, pneumatic and / or steam hammer. This TM specifies the permitted hours and other conditions for percussive piling. Table 5.3 lists the acceptable percussive piling noise levels for various types of NSR.

Table 5.3: ANLs for percussive piling

NSR Window Type or Means of Ventilation	ANL, dB(A)
(i) NSR (or part of NSR) with no window or other opening	100
(ii) NSR with central air conditioning system.	90
(iii) NSR with windows or other openings but without central air conditioning system	85

5.1.11 Depending on the number and type of piling machines and the separation distance from NSRs, percussive piling may be restricted to 12, 5 or 3 hours per day. For NSRs that are particularly sensitive to noise, such as hospitals, medical clinics, educational institutions and courts of law, a further reduction of 10dB(A) shall be applied to the above ANLs.

5.1.12 To minimize the construction noise impact, alternative construction methods to replace percussive piling and blasting shall be proposed as far as practicable.

Construction Groundborne Noise

5.1.13 Noise arising from general construction works that may generate groundborne noise during normal working hours is governed by the TM-EIAO under the EIAO as shown in Table 5.1. The Technical Memorandum for the Assessment of Noise from Places other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites (TM-Places) under the NCO stipulates that noise transmitted primarily through the structural elements of building, or buildings, shall be 10 dB(A) less than the relevant ANLs.

5.1.14 Based on the same principle for the groundborne noise criteria (i.e. ANL-10 dB(A) under the TM-Places), the construction groundborne noise levels inside domestic premises and schools shall be limited to 65 dB(A) and 60 dB(A) respectively when compared to the TM-EIAO.

5.1.15 For construction works conducted on general holidays, Sundays and weekdays during evening (i.e. 1900-2300 hrs) and night time (i.e. 2300-0700 hrs) the following day, the construction groundborne noise level shall be limited to 10 dB(A) below the respective ANLs for the Area Sensitive Rating appropriate to those NSRs affected by the Project. A summary of these criteria is given in the Table 5.4 below.

Table 5.4: Construction groundborne noise criteria

NSR type	Noise Criteria, dB(A)
NSR type	[1]	[2]	[3]
All domestic premises including temporary housing accommodation	65	50/55/60^[4,5]	35/40/45^[4,5]
Hotels and hostel	65	50/55/60^[4,5]	35/40/45^[4,5]
Educational institutions including kindergarten, nurseries and all others where unaided voice communication is required	60 55 (for during examination)	N/A^[6]	N/A^[6]

Notes:

[1] Daytime (0700 – 1900) except general holidays and Sunday

[2] Daytime (0700 – 1900) during general holidays and Sundays and all days during Evening (1900 –2300 hrs)

[3] Night-time (2300 – 0700 hrs)

[4] Based on the Basic Noise Level for NSRs with Area Sensitivity Ratings of A, B, and C detailed in the Technical Memorandum on Noise From Construction Work Other Than Percussive Piling.

[5] Construction Noise Permit is required for works during this period.

[6] No sensitive use in educational institutions during evening and night-time period is assumed except specified.

Operational Noise

5.1.16 The TM-EIAO (Annex 5 of TM) stipulates the noise standards for various noise sources as shown in Table 5.5. It should, however, be noted that the following noise criteria are only applicable to uses that rely on opened windows for ventilation.

Table 5.5: Noise standards for operational phase

Common Uses	Noise Standards^[1]
Common Uses	Road Traffic Noise L₁₀ _(1hour) dB(A)	Fixed Noise Sources
All domestic premises including temporary housing accommodation	70	a) 5dB(A) below the appropriate ANLs shown in Table 3 of the Technical Memorandum for the Assessment of Noise from Places Other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites, or b) the prevailing background noise levels (For quiet areas with level 5 dB(A) below the ANL)
Hotels and hostels	70
Offices	70
Educational institutions including kindergartens, nurseries & all others where unaided voice communication is required	65
Places of public worship and courts of law	65
Hospitals, clinics, convalescences and homes for the aged (diagnostic rooms and wards only)	55

Note:

[1] The above standards apply to uses that rely on opened windows for ventilation.

Road Traffic Noise

5.1.17 The criteria for assessing road traffic noise is given in the TM-EIAO and tabulated in Table 5.5. For domestic premises, hotels, hostels and offices, the criterion is 70dB(A). For educational institutes and places of worship, the criterion is 65dB(A). For hospitals, clinics etc, a more stringent criterion of 55dB(A) is stipulated. It should be noted that all these criteria only apply to NSRs that rely on open-windows for ventilation.

Fixed Noise Sources

5.1.18 Operational noise from fixed noise sources is controlled under the NCO’s TM on Noise from Places other than Domestic Premises, Public Places or Construction Sites (TM-Places). To plan for a better environment, the TM-EIAO has specified the following requirements, whichever is more stringent.

(1) 5dB(A) below the appropriate ANLs in the TM-Places; or

(2) the prevailing background noise levels.

The ANLs for different Area Sensitivity Ratings during different periods are summarised in Table 5.6.

Table 5.6: ANLs for fixed noise sources

Time Period	ANL, dB(A)
Time Period	Area Sensitivity Rating A	Area Sensitivity Rating B	Area Sensitivity Rating C
Day (0700 to 1900 hours)	60	65	70
Evening (1900 to 2300 hours)	60	65	70
Night (2300 to 0700 hours)	50	55	60

5.1.19 For assessing fixed noise sources, the Area Sensitivity Ratings at the NSRs are defined in accordance with the relevant TMs. Clear Water Bay Road and Sau Mau Ping Road have an Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) of 27,470 and 22,640 respectively in Year 2012 and hence it is not considered as an Influencing Factor (IF) due to the daily traffic flow of lower than 30,000 vehicles. An Area Sensitivity Rating of “B” is therefore assigned for the NSRs indirectly influenced by the IF and “C” for NSRs directly influenced by the IF according to the TM. The Assessment Area of ARQ consists of high-rise building blocks at south and low density residential area at north. As ARQ is located in between these two areas, the NSRs of ARQ are considered as “Type (iv) Others Area” according to the TM. An Area Sensitivity Rating of the NSRs of ARQ is considered as “B”.

Noise from Bus Terminus

5.1.20 There are no noise level standards stipulated for the noise from the operation of bus terminus. Chapter 9 of Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG) provides considerations for the Project Proponent to determine the location and layout of the bus terminus during planning stage.

5.2 Description of Existing Environment

5.2.1 The major land use in the vicinity of the Study Area is residential, with high-rise developments. The existing noise climate is dominated by the road traffic noise from New Clear Water Bay Road, Clear Water Bay Road, Anderson Road, Sau Mau Ping Road, Shun On Road, Lee On Road, Po Lam Road, etc. The Study Area is far away (~1500m) from the existing industrial areas in Kwun Tong and Kowloon Bay. Noise impacts attributed by existing industrial premises on the Study Area would be insignificant.

5.3 Study Area & Noise Sensitive Receivers

Study Area

5.3.1 The Study Area, as delineated in Figure 227724/E/0001, is located on the south-western slopes of the Tai Shueng Tok Hill at the far north-eastern edge of urban East Kowloon, and is close to the major population centres of Kwun Tong, Lam Tin and Sau Mau Ping. Specifically, the Study Area covers an area of about 86 ha, which includes a platform area of about 40 ha.

Sensitive Receivers

5.3.2 With reference to Annex 13 of the TM-EIAO, NSRs include residential uses (all domestic premises including temporary housing), institutional uses (educational institutions including kindergarten and nurseries), hospitals, medical clinics, homes for the aged, convalescent homes, places of worship, libraries, court of law, performing arts centres, auditoria and amphitheatres, country park and others.

5.3.3 Representative NSRs within the assessment area have been identified with the first layer of NSRs selected for assessment. These NSRs cover all existing sensitive developments and planned NSRs during construction and operational phases.

5.3.4 The existing NSRs are identified by means of topographic maps, aerial photos, land status plans, S.16 / S.12a Town Planning Ordinance and site inspections. Planned / committed NSRs are identified by making reference to relevant Outline Zoning Plans (OZP), Outline Development Plans (ODP), Layout Plans and other published plans in relation to the Town Planning Board.

5.3.5 Referring to Section 1.1, prior to this Investigation Study, a Planning Study on Future Land Use at Anderson Road Quarry to examine the future land use and explore the development potential of the upper quarry area has been carried out. A Recommended Outline Development Plan (RODP) under the Planning Study is shown in Figure 227724/E/0002. The recommendations for noise mitigation measures under the Planning Study including the setback distance and/ or non-openable windows/ maintenance window that are not opened for ventilation facing the road networks, use of non-sensitive structure and building orientation have been adopted and summarized in Table 5.7 below. Figure 227724/E/2000 illustrates the recommendations and the assumed building layout plans within ARQ are for assessment purpose.

Table 5.7: Recommended noise mitigation measures in RODP

Zone	Recommendations
R2-1, R2-2, R2-3, R2-5	5m building setback
R2-6	8m building setback
R2-7 (facing north)	8m building setback
R2-7 (facing east)	8m building setback; Proper building layout; Use of architectural fins; and Non-openable windows/ maintenance window that are not opened for ventilation
R2-8 (facing north)	8m building setback; Proper building layout; Use of architectural fins; Non-openable windows/ maintenance window that are not opened for ventilation; and Absorptive type balcony
R2-8 (facing east)	8m building setback
R2-9&10	8m building setback; Proper building layout; Use of architectural fins; Non-openable windows/ maintenance window that are not opened for ventilation; and Absorptive type balcony
RS-1	10m building setback
E-1	Proper orientation of L-shaped standard design school layout; Use of non-sensitive structure for noise screening; and Provision of non-openable windows/ maintenance window that are not opened for ventilation (no specific location of non-openable windows/ maintenance window that are not opened for ventilation in Planning Study)
E-2	Proper orientation of L-shaped standard design school layout; Use of non-sensitive structure for noise screening; and Non-openable windows/ maintenance window that are not opened for ventilation

Note:

[1] All the building setback is measured from the nearest site boundary.

5.3.6 The existing and planned NSRs in the vicinity, which may be affected within the Study Area of ARQ are identified and summarized in Table 5.8 and illustrated in Figures 227724/E/2010-2040. Photos showing the existing NSRs are given in Appendix 5.1.

Table 5.8: Existing and planned NSRs

Location	NSR ID.	Land Use^[1]	Potential Impact^[2]	Intake Year
ARQ – Planned
Development of Anderson Road Quarry	R2-1 – R001 ~ R005	R	R	2026
	R2-1 – R006	R	F	2026
	R2-2 – R002 ~ R012	R	R	2026
	R2-2 – R013	R	F	2026
	R2-3 – R001 ~ R009	R	R	2026
	R2-4 – R001 ~ R009	R	R	2026
	R2-5 – R001 ~ R009	R	R	2026
	R2-6 – R001 ~ R010	R	R	2026
	R2-6 – R010	R	F	2026
	R2-7 – R001 ~ R004, R007 ~ R011	R	R	2026
	R2-7 – R009 ~ R010	R	F	2026
	R2-8 – R003 ~ R010, R013 ~ R014, R016 ~ R019, R022	R	R	2022
	R2-8 – R010	R	C, R	2022
	R2-8 – R009, R016	R	F	2022
	R2-9&10 – R001 ~ R003, R005 ~ R006, R008, R011 ~ R019	R	R	2022
	R2-9&10 – R001	R	C	2022
	RS-1 – R001 ~ R010	R	R	2022
	RS-1 – R001	R	F	2022
	RS-1 – R008	R	C, R