Residents living near the Kai Tak Sports Park won’t be disrupted by noise during the upcoming Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, the Environmental Protection Department reassured.
Law Chi-wing, Senior Environmental Protection Officer said the main stadium, where the event will be held from Friday to Sunday, was designed with noise mitigation as a priority.
“The roof and walls have special soundproofing that cuts noise by about 40 decibels on average,” Law told Sing Tao Daily, The Standard’s sister newspaper.
The 1.5-meter-thick roof contains multiple layers including aluminum, foam and cement with empty space in between to absorb sound.
The underside is lined with acoustic panels, reducing sound transmission by approximately 60 decibels per section — equivalent to the insulation provided by 400-millimeter-thick lightweight concrete.
With the stadium’s roof set to open on Saturday and Sunday for the rugby matches, Lee Chee-kwan, Principal Environmental Protection Officer of Assessment and Noise, confirmed that noise levels would remain within acceptable limits.
He said nearby residential areas recorded readings of just 55 to 58 decibels — comparable to normal ambient noise — even with the roof open during a test football match earlier last month.
“It could be as loud as construction work inside, but you wouldn’t hear it outside,” Lee said.
“Kai Tak’s layout and structural engineering were meticulously planned to avoid disturbing neighbors while accommodating major events,” Lee added.
The adjacent Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground, though open-air, also features a partial canopy to minimize sound dispersion.
The department has been testing noise levels since the park was built, placing special microphones near nearby apartments.
All measurements taken during simultaneous events at the main stadium and youth sports ground registered have stayed well below legal limits, allowing the park to operate without time restrictions under environmental regulations.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department has rolled out special arrangements to manage crowds, including increased MTR Tuen Ma Line services and empty trains on standby, special bus routes and taxi drop-off at the stadium allowed.
The public is strongly recommended to use public transport and cross-border travelers are advised to transfer at Tai Wai Station for East Rail Line connections to Lo Wu.
A temporary restricted flight zone will be enforced around the park during the tournament from 9.30am to 10pm on Friday, 8.30am to 9.30pm on Saturday, and 9am to 8.30pm on Sunday.
Police warned that unauthorized drone flights within the zone are prohibited, with offenders facing penalties of up to HK$100,000 in fines and two years of imprisonment.
Additionally, authorities reminded the public that a special aerial display will take place over Victoria Harbour on Sunday to commemorate Kong’s century-old aviation history, and the Civil Aviation Department will expand the existing restricted flight zone around Victoria Harbour to include a temporary no-fly area, banning all drone activities during the event.
(Ayra Wang)
