Posted by
Goo
18 yrs ago
My upstairs neighbours have been playing piano loudly all evening. At 10:30 I complained to the doorman and when it didn't stop, I went up to ask them about it, nicely, and a cranky woman told me they can make all the noise they want until 11pm. I read a domestic residential noise ordinance somewhere that said people can't play loud music or musical instruments at any time day or night. Does anyone know more about this or have any suggestions? It's a new problem but they seem like the type of people to keep it up just to be difficult. My landlord is usually not much help with anything! Thank you!
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Typically this is covered in the rental contract or some sort of standard addendum that all tenants need to sign. A normal "curfew" time is 2200.
If your landlord is not very helpful I don't know that there's a lot you can do in practice. Buy really good earplugs? Sorry I'm not much help.
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The law you are referring to is the Noise Control Ordinance, Cap. 400, sec 5 which states:
1) Any person who at any time in any domestic premises or public place-
(a) plays or operates any musical or other instrument, including any record or cassette player or radio or television apparatus;
(b) uses any loud-speaker, megaphone, or other device or instrument for magnifying sound;
(c) plays any game or engages in any pastime; or
(d) carries on a trade or business,
the noise of which is a source of annoyance to any person commits an offence.
This means you can call the police, cite the Chapter and Section of the complaint. Print out a copy of the Ordinance (you can do this in Chinese/English from BLIS)
and show it to your neighbour, explaining that you will call the police if the noise is causing a nuisance.
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Oh dear, so we aren't the only ones with (multiple) piano enthusiasts for neighbours!!! At least one of ours can play decently so we just put up with it.
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hmm
18 yrs ago
Yes, you should tell the police that you KNOW of this ordinance. Often they will cite time of day rules to you as well hoping to avoid a confrontation. Pianos and other instruments are perfectly legal, but the very INSTANT that they become of an annoyance to anyone they violate the ordinance. As Claire mentioned it is a good idea to print out the ordinance in both English and Chinese... as you are obviously annoyed you can now assert that it is always an annoyance.. I believe the fine is up to 10000$...
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Goo
18 yrs ago
Thank you everyone. I really hope it doesn't go that far but at least I have the ordnance if I do need the police. I'm tolerant to a point but 10:30 pm was a bit late to hear a bad rendition of the wedding march for the 18th time!
It's strange, in other countries I've lived in, it was always better to speak directly with neighbours, rather than calling the security guard or police but here that seems inappropriate. Has anyone found that it's taboo to speak to Chinese neighbours directly or is this lot just odd? They seemed quite agitated and aggressive even though I tried to apologise a whole lot and explained that it was my bedtime. Thanks again.
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Does this ordinance apply to building works at all - drilling for instance?
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I strongly suggest you call the police to resolve the problem, the Security is will are not willingful to help, this is from my own experience. I had a similar situation where kids from the above floor playing with their basketball. Security refused to help, so I ended up appoarching them myself, and guess what happened??? The husband came after me with a butcher knife and ripped my button off my dress shirt... I finally resolved it by calling the police... Yes, Chinese locals are not very friendly when they are being bitched at...
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I don't think you can drill after 7 pm - I called the police on my drilling neighbors - works wonders.
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As far as I have heard, they are not allowed to drill and hammer until 2300. However I have also heard that there is a rather large loophole. You can simply ask the appropriate department for an exemption to work overnight.
As I said, this is not first hand knowledge. I may be wrong.
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Is it possible that each estate/complex has their own rules re: reno's? Our old place posted regulations requiring reno's to stop at 6:00pm...we called the security on it a few times and always had success...
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foxy
18 yrs ago
Renovation noise is not permitted between the hours of 7pm and 7am or anytime on a public holiday, unless they get approval from the EPD.
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/laws_regulations/envir_legislation/laws_overview.html
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foxy
18 yrs ago
Actually this refers to construction noise, but I presume it all goes under 'neighbourhood type noise'
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Goo
18 yrs ago
Thank you Brian.don for the advice about how people here react to unsolicited visits by neighbours - even friendly ones. Now I understand the rather over-the-top hostility I met. Oh well, I can always move. :)
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