The end of Hong Kong’s famous neon? 4,000 companies sign up for battle against light pollution
Developers, banks and hotels among the signatories to voluntary charter who will turn off external lights from 11pm or midnight until 7am the next morning
Over 4,000 businesses and organisations have agreed to switch off external lights late at night as part of a voluntary government charter to curb light pollution.
Signatories include big name developers and shopping malls, building management companies, hoteliers, retailers, banks, schools, utilities, and public and non-governmental organisations.
Environment secretary Wong Kam-sing said the arrangement would reduce the nuisance lights cause residents at night while saving energy and promoting low-carbon living.
Previous studies have found Hong Kong to be the world’s worst city for light pollution, with levels in Tsim Sha Tsui found to be nearly 1,200 times brighter than a normal night sky.
“The biggest concern in Hong Kong should be reducing this light nuisance on residents’ sleep,” Wong said. He said progress would be monitored over the next two to three years to see if “more stringent” regulations were needed.
