NOISE NUISANCE (Legislation)

Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Defence whether the existing law is adequate to deal with persons causing noise nuisance.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, the existing legislation is adequate to deal with persons causing noise nuisance. The laws that can be invoked are:

(1) The Minor Offences Ordinance (Chapter117).

(2) The Public Entertainments Ordinance, 1958 (No. 40 of 1958).

(3) The Road Traffic Ordinance, 1961 (No. 26 of 1961).

Members will agree that legislation alone will not be able to deal with the noise nuisance. Loud noises are usually created by inconsiderate people. Good social habits can be achieved by education both in the schools and at home. In the next decade we should have an educated society where the majority should have acquired considerate habits. By then we hope that the above legislation would be obsolete and could be safely revoked.