{"id":607,"date":"2021-06-25T18:32:29","date_gmt":"2021-06-25T10:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/devwp.visibleone.io\/p136\/?p=607"},"modified":"2021-06-29T11:44:51","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T03:44:51","slug":"common-types-of-nuisance-smoke-fumes-and-smells","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/daily-lives-legal-issues\/disputes-with-neighbours\/common-types-of-nuisance-smoke-fumes-and-smells\/","title":{"rendered":"Common types of nuisance: Smoke, fumes and smells"},"content":{"rendered":"

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V. Common types of nuisance: Smoke, fumes and smells<\/h1>\n

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A. Nuisance<\/h2>\n

Making or causing to be made smoke, fumes or smells that materially interfere with the ordinary comfort of neighbours is an actionable nuisance, even if the smoke, fumes or smells are not actually noxious or dangerous to health. For a general explanation of liability of nuisance, please refer to\u00a0Private nuisance > What constitutes an actionable nuisance?<\/a><\/p>\n

In Hong Kong, some Chinese families living in multi-storey buildings may burn incense in the common area of buildings, such as corridors. In a famous incense burning case,\u00a0Hu Wei Hsin v Ma Hung Wing<\/a>\u00a0, the Court held that the smoke and smell caused by the burning of incense by the defendants constituted a nuisance.<\/p>\n

The defendants in that case had been burning three sticks of incense in each of the two censers outside their flat at various times of the day for more than an hour each time, with the burning incense unattended most of the time. Sometimes, one of the defendants swept the dust resulting from the burning of the incense out to the plaintiff\u2019s flat.<\/p>\n

The Court made the following observation about the balance between the right to carry out worship and the right to be free from nuisances in Hong Kong:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u00a0In a multi-cultural society like Hong Kong, we should always respect the Chinese culture and the right of individuals to carry out any kinds of worship or religious ceremony. However, if such activities constitute a nuisance to the neighbours, in particular, if the activities are performed in the common area of a multi-storey building, then such kind of activities should not be allowed. This has nothing to do with the right to worship.<\/em>\u00a0\u201d<\/p>\n

B. Criminal liability<\/h2>\n

According to\u00a0section 12 (1)(e)<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance<\/a>\u00a0(\u00a0Cap. 132<\/a>\u00a0of the Laws of Hong Kong), the emission of dust, fumes or effluvia from any premises in such a manner as to be a nuisance constitutes a statutory nuisance. The general principles of private nuisance apply (Please refer to \u201cWhat is a statutory nuisance?\u201d). There is no distinction between domestic and non-domestic premises.<\/p>\n

Effluvia suggest something given off into the air that is offensive to the senses, including smell from rubbish.<\/p>\n

C. Assistance<\/h2>\n

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is responsible for handling this statutory nuisance. (Please refer to\u00a0Statutory nuisance > C. Remedies<\/a>\u00a0.)<\/p>\n

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[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Consumer Contracts” module_class=”posttitle” _builder_version=”4.9.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] V. Common types of nuisance: Smoke, fumes and smells [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.7″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] A. Nuisance Making or causing to be made smoke, fumes or smells that materially interfere with the ordinary comfort […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"

Adoption is a legal process by which parental rights and responsibilities over a child are transferred from the birth parents to the adoptive parents. An adoption in Hong Kong must be effected in accordance with the Adoption Ordinance , Cap. 290<\/a> , Laws of Hong Kong. The guiding principle in the adoption process is the \u201cbest interests of the child\u201d ( section 8<\/a> of the Adoption Ordinance<\/a> ).<\/p>

Local adoption service in Hong Kong is provided by the Adoption Unit of the Social Welfare Department and three non-governmental organizations, as Accredited Bodies:<\/p>