Hong Kong lights spark court action
Source: Agencies |
March 8, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHIU Mung-ngor and her husband paid US$3.3 million for a luxury apartment in Hong Kong, partly because of its view of the harbor.
But their enjoyment was short-lived. The completion last October of a three-story high LED advertising billboard on the roof of a nearby shopping mall blocked the view, while the billboard lights shone into the living room and bedrooms until midnight.
Chiu, along with other residents, complained to the mall, the developer, the apartment block's management firm, the government, politicians and activists. All to no avail.
Now, 10 parties owning a dozen properties in the building in the Tsim Sha Tsui area are to launch Hong Kong's first legal action about light pollution, claiming the billboard has ruined the value of their properties as well as their quality of life.
"The beginning of October, one couple from Australia - they loved the apartment, they come back to visit four times - decided to rent it," Chiu said, telling how three prospective tenants have been put off by the flashing billboard 250 metres away.
"Then all of a sudden, the sign comes on. They still wanted to stay and asked around to see how late the sign would be turned off. Finally they decided they could not handle it."
The action by the apartment residents has set off fresh complaints from nearby residents about overly bright buildings.
Mary Elvin has lived in the area for 20 years and said she suffered for six years while the shopping mall opposite her was under construction but now faces not only the lights from the mall but also the reflection from mirrored panels on the side of the building.
"I've got double curtains in my bedroom. I haven't got big curtains in my living room and why should I have to?" she said. "Should we live in dungeons?"
Prior to 2000, flashing lights were banned in Hong Kong because they were a hazard to planes landing at the airport in the heart of the city.
But after the airport moved to Lantau island, the government came under pressure to allow flashing decorations and billboards on buildings.
The government itself invested in a light show around the harbor, sparking competition among building owners who began to dress up their buildings with lights.
But their enjoyment was short-lived. The completion last October of a three-story high LED advertising billboard on the roof of a nearby shopping mall blocked the view, while the billboard lights shone into the living room and bedrooms until midnight.
Chiu, along with other residents, complained to the mall, the developer, the apartment block's management firm, the government, politicians and activists. All to no avail.
Now, 10 parties owning a dozen properties in the building in the Tsim Sha Tsui area are to launch Hong Kong's first legal action about light pollution, claiming the billboard has ruined the value of their properties as well as their quality of life.
"The beginning of October, one couple from Australia - they loved the apartment, they come back to visit four times - decided to rent it," Chiu said, telling how three prospective tenants have been put off by the flashing billboard 250 metres away.
"Then all of a sudden, the sign comes on. They still wanted to stay and asked around to see how late the sign would be turned off. Finally they decided they could not handle it."
The action by the apartment residents has set off fresh complaints from nearby residents about overly bright buildings.
Mary Elvin has lived in the area for 20 years and said she suffered for six years while the shopping mall opposite her was under construction but now faces not only the lights from the mall but also the reflection from mirrored panels on the side of the building.
"I've got double curtains in my bedroom. I haven't got big curtains in my living room and why should I have to?" she said. "Should we live in dungeons?"
Prior to 2000, flashing lights were banned in Hong Kong because they were a hazard to planes landing at the airport in the heart of the city.
But after the airport moved to Lantau island, the government came under pressure to allow flashing decorations and billboards on buildings.
The government itself invested in a light show around the harbor, sparking competition among building owners who began to dress up their buildings with lights.
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