The rejection followed a meeting with officials from Disney, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Advisory Committee on Environment.

At issue is Disney's planned 12-minute nightly fireworks display when it opens on September 12. Recent tests have sparked protests by environmental groups and nearby residents at Discovery Bay and Peng Chau Island who say the noise and smoke levels are too high. However, a Disney report into last Friday's tests says the fireworks displays meet local environmental requirements.

Test results showed that the air pollution levels over a 24-hour period were between 20 to 33 micrograms of respirable suspended particulates per cubic meter, compared with the local air quality objective of 180 micrograms of RSP. Noise levels were between 43.7 and 53 decibels, also lower than the legal limit of 55 decibels. Critics, however, claim that Hong Kong ''air quality objectives'' - levels for seven common air pollutants including sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide - are 17 years out of date, lagging far behind the best international standards.

''We want Disney to install monitors to check on the noise levels every week and air pollution levels every two weeks,'' EPD's director Keith Kwok. However, Mei Ng, who is a member of the Advisory Committee on the Environment, said Disney rejected the suggestion for monitors.

''They are not willing to install monitor stations and adopt any responsive measures during days when air pollution levels are high,'' Ng, who is the former director of environmental concern group Friends of the Earth said. She added that Tokyo's Disneyland has pollution monitors.

Disney officials refused to comment.

Meanwhile, the Advisory Committee on the Environment said the government cannot force Disney to use an environmentally friendly fireworks technology used in at Disneyland in California because its fireworks display already meets local requirements.

All the government can do is to advise the Disney to strengthen monitoring of pollutants in the first year, especially during the first two months after its opening, said committee member Ng Cho-nam.

Another committee member said she is angered by the government's inability to force Disney to use the new technology, which uses less gunpowder and air to launch the fireworks.

''It's so outrageous! Hong Kong Disneyland is acting so irresponsibly by ignoring public health,'' Mei Ng, said. Disney said in a written statement that the air launch technology utilized in California cannot be used in Hong Kong due to technical reasons.

wendy.leung@singtaonewscorp.com