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Introduction

Charter on External Lighting

Charter on External Lighting

The Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) implements the “Charter on External Lighting” (the “Charter”) to invite owners and responsible persons of external lighting installations to switch off lighting installations of decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment during the preset time (i.e. 10 p.m., 11 p.m. or midnight to 7 a.m. on the following day).

Purpose

Purpose

Due to the high building density in Hong Kong, external lighting at night might cause nuisance to residents nearby.  Switching off unnecessary external lighting during the preset time can foster a better nighttime environment, which is conducive for the public to rest.

Target

Target

Owners and responsible persons of external lighting installations of decorative, promotional or advertising purposes which affect the outdoor environment.

Award scheme

Award scheme

  1. The names of the Charter participants will be published on government websites.
  2. Charter participants will be given certificates and stickers for display at participating properties or shops.
  3. Charter participants can apply for displaying Charter logo on their marketing materials.
  4. Participants complying with the switch-off requirements will receive the following awards:
    • Diamond Award: switch off external lighting from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on the following day
    • Platinum Award: switch off external lighting from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. on the following day
    • Gold Award: switch off external lighting from midnight to 7 a.m. on the following day
The Switch-off requirements under the Charter

The Switch-off requirements under the Charter

  1. Scope
    The following external lighting should be switched off at the preset time:
    • Lighting installations of decorative, promotional or advertising purposes
    • Lighting installations that are intended for illumination of the outdoor environment, regardless of whether the lighting installations are interior or exterior, should be switched off at the preset time
    • Lighting installations of promotional or advertising purposes, including shop signs and advertising signs (e.g. signs illuminated by spotlights and light box signs, etc.) and outdoor video walls, etc.
    • Decorative lighting, including lighting for facades, rooftops and features, etc.
    • Signs and advertising signboards on higher levels: Signage on the first floor and above of a building, including signs and advertising signboards on the top of a building.  Even though the shops (regardless of whether these shops are located on the ground floor or the first floor or above of a building) are still in operation, light should be switched off at the preset time.
    • Non-static signs: Any non-static lighting for decorative, promotional or advertising purposes (e.g. non-static signs and video walls, etc.) should be switched off after 10 p.m.  If the non-static sign is a shop-front sign on the ground floor, and the shop concerned is still in operation at the preset time, the non-static sign should be turned to static mode after 10 p.m.
  2. Preset time
    • 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. – Participating organisations that choose to switch off external lighting during this preset time will be awarded a Diamond Award;
    • 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. – Participating organisations that choose to switch off external lighting during this preset time will be awarded a Platinum Award; or
    • Midnight to 7 a.m. – Participating organisations that choose to switch off external lighting during this preset time will be awarded a Gold Award.
  3. Exempted external lighting installations
    • Shop-front signs of shops on the ground floor which remain open at the preset time: The shop-front signs should not be operated in non-static mode.  If the signs are located on the first floor or above of a building, they should be switched off at the preset time even though the ground floor shops are still in operation.
    • Festive lightings: Festive lightings of decorative purpose, regardless of static or non- static, can be switched on at the preset time three weeks before the respective public holidays of Christmas, New Year and Lunar New Year until the morning of the seventh day after the holidays.  However, external lighting installations of promotional or advertising purposes only should be switched off at the preset time.
    • Lighting for security, safety and operational purposes (e.g. street lighting, lighting at airport and container port, construction sites, etc.): Due to safety and other operational considerations, such external lighting installations do not need to be switched off at the preset time.  Hence, it is not necessary for the owners and management of such external lighting installations to sign up to the Charter.
How to participate?

How to participate?

Organisations and shops that are interested in signing up to the Charter are invited to complete the Application Form.  Should you have any queries, please refer to the frequently asked questions or e-mail to: external_lighting@eeb.gov.hk.