More than 4,000 properties and shops have pledged to switch off unnecessary external lighting at night by signing up to the Charter on External Lighting which took effect today.
Launched by the Environment Bureau in January, the charter aims to enhance awareness of light nuisance and energy wastage caused by external lighting among business establishments and organisations.
Officiating at the signing ceremony, Secretary for Environment KS Wong noted that it can also encourage them to refrain from switching on unnecessary night lights and drive behavioural change.
"Many of them are from districts like Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, so it actually reflects that companies are trying to support that movement, so I think it is a good step forward and we would like to monitor the situation and see how that would improve the overall minimisation of light nuisance," Mr Wong said.
The switch-off arrangement could provide residents with a better environment conducive to sleep, and also promote energy saving and low-carbon living for the purpose of combating the profound impact of climate change, he added.
Signatories include premises from property development, building management, hotels and catering, retail, banking, travel and cinemas, as well as schools, public utilities and public/non-governmental organisations.
They pledged to switch off lighting installations with decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment during preset times.
Signatories that comply with the requirement to switch off external lighting from 11pm to 7am will be given the Platinum Award, while those switch off external lighting from midnight to 7am will be given the Gold Award. The awards will be presented next year.
Meanwhile, the bureau also re-launched the Guidelines on Industry Best Practices for External Lighting Installations. It will host seminars from May appealing to different sectors to adopt the guidelines’ good practices when planning or managing their external lighting installations.
It has also promulgated further guidelines which require all government departments to switch off external lighting with decorative, promotional and advertising purposes at 11pm at all properties owned or managed by the Government.
