The book titled Idling Engine: Hong Kong’s Environmental Policy in a Ten Year Stall 1997-2007, published by Civic Exchange – a nonprofit, Hong Kong-based think tank founded by Christine Loh, reviews a decade of the government’s environmental policy. The report claims that noise from existing roads continues to be a problem. Noise from roads is predicted to get worse, with “10% more people exposed to excessive traffic noise by 2016.”

Li Shaojun opens the window of her apartment.

“In the first month after I rent the apartment, I tried to spend a whole day at home to do some drawings. But I was constantly disturbed by the traffic noise emanating from the road below. Furthermore, I couldn’t keep the windows open,” Li said.

Li Shaojun opens the window of her apartment to show what the traffic noise like.

Amy Khan, living on the 21st floor of a residential building along Des Voeux Road West, also finds it necessary to close apartment windows and run the air conditioner to hide from the roadway noise.

Amy Khan and her children Xaira, Mustafa, and Nadia (from left to right)

Amy Khan and her family have been living in the apartment for five years. It is her sixteenth year living in Hong Kong. For her, noise is an issue she and her family must cope with.

“It is very noisy, but everyone needs transportation. We live in this city, so we cope with it (noise),” Khan said, with her children playing around her.

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