Hong Kong's Environment Bureau (ENB) on Monday launched the first-ever charter to address the problems of light nuisance and energy wastage caused by external lighting.
Owners of and persons responsible for external lighting installations are invited to switch off lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment during preset times.
At the launch ceremony of the Charter on External Lighting, Hong Kong's Secretary for the Environment Wong Kam-sing said the ENB has in the past few years been monitoring the nuisance and energy wastage problems that may be caused by external lighting, and has been actively identifying possible solutions to tackle these problems.
The government is making every effort to implement the improvement measures proposed by the Task Force on External Lighting last year, including the launch of the charter with the aim of enhancing public awareness of the issue of external lighting, and gradually bringing in positive changes to mitigate the problems caused by external lighting.
Wong said that nearly 1,000 properties and shops that have committed to signing the charter. These include premises from different sectors such as property development, building management, hotels and catering, retail, banking, travel and cinemas, as well as schools, public utilities and non-governmental organizations.
Organizations pledging to sign up to the charter, which will be effective in April, would switch off lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment during the preset times.
As for government properties, the ENB has promulgated guidelines which require all government departments to switch off external lighting with decorative, promotional and advertising purposes at 11 p.m. at all properties owned or managed by the government, and to observe the good practices in the guidelines.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Chairperson of the Working Group on the Promotion of the Charter on External Lighting Caroline Mak pointed out that in finalizing the content of the charter, the working group was mindful that a careful balance should be struck between the need to provide residents with an environment conducive to sleep and the operational needs of the business sector, as well as the need to sustain a vibrant image of Hong Kong.
