Noise rules should be music to Beijing's ears

BEIJING, Nov 20: Construction firms, markets, bars and other places of entertainment in China's bustling capital will face stiff fines if they make too much noise, state media said today.

Building sites, which have mushroomed in the run up to the 2008 Olympic Games, will not be allowed to mix cement or do anything else noisy between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., ''except in emergencies'', the official Xinhua news agency said.

Around-the-clock construction is a common feature in many Chinese cities, though technically work is supposed to stop after sunset. Trucks rumble through the night and jackhammers are used at all hours keeping residents awake.

During middle school or college entrance exam days, loud construction work would also be banned, Xinhua said, adding that fines of up to 200,000 yuan (,420) could be levied.

Entertainment venues, stores and restaurants that disturb people with noise could be fined up to 100,000 yuan, the Beijing Morning News said.

''Some promotional activities in supermarkets usually use loud speakers, loud singing and dancing which annoys residents, but there's nothing they can do about it,'' the newspaper said.

''The implementation of the regulations will put an end to this.'' Noise from roads have also exceeded the national limit, which is 70 decibels, the newspaper said.

Drivers who use their horns to harry pedestrians and other drivers would be fined up to 5,000 yuan, it added.

Neither Xinhua nor the Beijing Morning News gave a date for implementation of the new rules.

REUTERS