Light pollution | Zhuhai Center Tower asked to dim lights

Macau’s Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) informed the Times in a written statement yesterday that Zhuhai municipal authorities are investigating the intensity of light emitted from the Zhuhai Center Tower and that the building operators have agreed to “adjust the brightness of the light.”

The DSPA contacted Zhuhai authorities late last month in response to complaints from Macau residents that the light emitted from some buildings in Zhuhai constituted a form of light pollution, particularly in the Sai Van Lake area and parts of Taipa.

The DPSA said that the cooperation mechanism between Macau and Zhuhai had been utilized to express the concerns of local residents.

“Regarding the glare and spotlight problems at the Zhuhai Center Tower […], the Macau Environmental Protection Bureau has informed the Zhuhai Environmental Protection Bureau […] and has received a reply,” the DPSA said in a statement.

“[Zhuhai authorities] arrived on the scene to investigate [the complaints], and the operators of the Zhuhai Center Tower will adjust the brightness of the light.”

According to Macau locals living in one of the affected areas, the Zhuhai Center Tower lights have been noticeably dimmer in the past few days compared to the previous week.

Last week’s Chinese New Year celebrations may account for this difference.

The cooperation mechanism, or “working group”, between Macau and Zhuhai is used for the coordination of environmental policies in the cities’ administrations.

In an interview with the Times last week, the Chairman of the Green Environment Protection Association of Macau, Lun Veng San, testified to the importance of the cooperations, saying it could be used for the negotiation of joint policies to reduce inter-territory light pollution.

The Macau-Zhuhai cooperation mechanism has been criticized in the past, with others claiming that the scope of the cooperation is limited.