1.1
Project Background
1.1.1
The Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Feasibility
Study, completed in 1989, examined the development of approximately 108
hectares of new reclamation and 60 hectares of water basin, together with
existing land to be redeveloped, along the Central, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay
shoreline. The study also identified the
need for an east-west strategic route along the northshore of Hong Kong Island,
to relieve the overloaded traffic on the existing east-west routes. This trunk route comprised a tunnel section
through Central and Wan Chai (the Central-Wan Chai Bypass) and an elevated
roadway along the Causeway Bay shoreline (the Island Eastern Corridor Link),
connecting to the existing Island Eastern Corridor.
1.1.2
The Central and Wan Chai Reclamation Feasibility
Study proposed development to be carried out in five stages. Central Reclamation Phase I, for
accommodating the Hong Kong Central Station of the Airport Railway, was
completed in June 1998. Central
Reclamation Phase II, at the previous Tamar Basin, was completed in September
1997. Wan Chai Reclamation Phase I, for
the extension to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), was
completed in July 1997. Detailed design
for Central Reclamation Phase III (CRIII) is currently in progress.
1.1.3
The Wan Chai Development Phase II (WDII) project
(formerly known as Wan Chai Reclamation Phase II) is the fifth phase in the
implementation of the Central and Wan Chai Reclamation, following Central
Reclamation Phases I, II and III and Wan Chai Reclamation Phase I. Figure 1.1 indicates the site location of the
WDII project.
1.1.4
As a result of considerable public concern over
reclamation in the Victoria Harbour, the Protection of the Harbour Ordinance
was enacted on 30 June 1997, and was amended by the Protection of the Harbour
(Amendment) Ordinance 1999 enacted on 2 December 1999 (the Harbour
Ordinances). Under the Harbour
Ordinances, the Harbour is to be protected and preserved as a special public
asset and a natural heritage and there shall be a presumption against
reclamation in the Harbour. The
reclamation for CRIII as proposed in the original scope of the Central and Wan
Chai Reclamation was reviewed and subsequently reduced. To comply with the Harbour Ordinances, the
WDII project (hereafter the ‘Project’) has also to be reviewed.
1.1.5
The main objective of the Project is, now, not to
reclaim land for development, but to provide land for key transport
infrastructure and facilities. The key
transport infrastructure for which land needs to be provided comprises the
Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB), the Island Eastern Corridor Link (IECL) and the
associated connections to the existing road network, the proposed North Hong
Kong Island Line (NIL) and the proposed fourth rail harbour crossing section of
the Shatin to Central Link (SCL). In
addition, the Project will also include the reprovisioning of any existing
waterfront facilities affected by the Project as well as any necessary measures
to improve the resultant shoreline so that an attractive waterfront promenade
would be created for the enjoyment of the public.
1.2
Objectives of the EIA Study
1.2.1
According to the Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA) Study Brief, registered under the Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance (EIAO) as "Wanchai Reclamation Phase II - Studies, Site
Investigation, Design and Construction - Environmental Impact Study (Ref No.
SB-001/BC)", the objectives of this
EIA Study is to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental
impacts arising from the WDII development works. All related activities taking place
concurrently shall also be assessed to investigate the potential cumulative
impacts. This information will
contribute to decision on whether or not:
(a)
the adverse environmental impacts are within the
established standards / guidelines;
(b) there are any conditions and requirements for the detailed design,
construction and operation, of the proposed Project; and
(c) the residual impacts (impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are
implemented) are within the established standards / guidelines.
1.2.2
In respect to the requirements of an EIA study
specified under the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment
Process (EIAO-TM), the objectives and contents of this EIA Report should also
include the following:
·
to describe the Project and associated works
together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the
proposed Project;
·
to identify and describe the elements of the
community and environment likely to be affected by the proposed Project, and/or
likely to cause adverse impacts upon the proposed Project, including both the
natural and man-made environment;
·
to identify and quantify emission sources and
determine the severity of impacts on
sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
·
to identify and quantify any potential losses or
damage to flora, fauna and natural habitats;
·
to identify existing landscape and visual quality in
the Study Area so as to evaluate the landscape and visual impacts of the
Project;
·
to propose the provision of mitigation measures so
as to minimise pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during
construction and operation of the Project;
·
to identify, predict and evaluate the residual (that
is, after practicable mitigation) environmental impacts and cumulative effects
expected to arise during the construction and operation phases of the Project
in relation to the sensitive receivers, potential affected uses, neighbouring
construction works, reclamation, dredging of seabed and water pollution
activities within Victoria Harbour, land uses and water current movement;
·
to identify, assess and specify methods, measures
and standards, to be included in the detailed design, construction and
operation of the Project, which are necessary to mitigate these residual impacts
and reduce them to allowable levels within the established standards /
guidelines;
·
to identify and justify the need for environmental
monitoring and audit and to define the scope of the requirements necessary to
ensure the implementation and the effectiveness of the environmental protection
and pollution control measures adopted;
·
to investigate the extent of side-effects of
proposed mitigation measures that may lead to other forms of impacts;
·
to identify constraints associated with the
mitigation measures recommended in the study; and
·
to identify any additional studies necessary to
fulfil the objectives of this EIA Study.
1.3
Consideration of Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance
1.3.1
The proposed Project is an engineering feasibility
study of an urban development project with a study area covering more than 20
ha. Under the EIAO, this Project is
classified as a Schedule 3 Designated Project (DP) under item 1 of the Schedule
3 “Major Designated Projects Requiring Environmental Impact Assessment
Reports”. A detailed environmental
assessment for approval by the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) is
required.
1.3.2
The Project also contains various Schedule 2 DPs
that, under the EIAO, require Environmental Permits (EPs) to be granted by the
DEP before they may be either constructed or operated. Table 1.1 summarises the five individual DPs
under this Project. Figure 1.2 shows the
locations of these Schedule 2 DPs.
Table 1.1 Schedule
2 Designated Projects involved in the Wan Chai Development Phase II under the
EIAO
Designated Project
|
EIAO Reference
|
Remarks
|
Reclamation works (including
associated dredging works)
|
Schedule 2, Part I, C.1
|
Reclamation more than 5 ha in size
|
WDII major roads (including Road P2)
|
Schedule 2, Part I, A.1
|
Primary / district distributor roads
|
Wan Chai East Sewage Outfall
|
Schedule 2, Part I, F.5 and F.6
|
Submarine sewage pipelines with a
total diameter more than 1,200 mm and include sewage outfalls
|
Kellett Island Marina
|
Schedule 2, Part I, O.2
|
A marina designed to provide moorings
for not less than 30 vessels used primary for pleasure or recreation
|
Cross-harbour Water Mains from Wan
Chai to Tsim Sha Tsui
|
Schedule 2, Part I, C.12
|
A dredging operation which is less
than 100 m from a seawater intake point.
|
1.3.3
While this EIA Study is undertaken as part of the
Comprehensive Feasibility Study of WDII and under Schedule 3 of the EIAO, the
EIA Report has also included environmental impact assessments of the Schedule 2
DPs identified in Table 1.1 above, for the application of EPs for individual
Schedule 2 DPs.
1.3.4
The CWB&IECL project, which includes road
sections within the WDII project area, is a trunk road and is considered as a
DP under Schedule 2, Part I, A.1. An EIA
has been conducted separately by Highway Department's Consultant for the CWB&IECL
project in accordance with Schedule 2 of the EIAO.
1.3.5
The WDII study has also confirmed that there will be
a need, after 2016, for the North-South Link, which provides a direct link to
the Wan Chai hinterland in order to overcome traffic congestion on the existing
Canal Road Corridor. However, the
North-South Link and its associated slip road connections will be implemented
as separate items from the current WDII project, at a later stage. It will be subject to detailed engineering
assessment to confirm the technical viability.
The North-South Link is a DP under the EIAO and an EIA will be required
to confirm its environmental acceptability under the EIAO. The current EIA for WDII has not included the
North-South Link.
1.4
Structure of EIA Report
1.4.1
The EIA Report is presented in three volumes. The following sets out the structure of
Volume 1 of this EIA Report:
·
Section 2 illustrates the
Project location, the scope of development, the EIA Study Area and the works
programme that have been considered under the Project;
·
Section 3 identifies and
assesses the potential air quality impacts associated with the construction and
operation of the proposed infrastructure and development of the Project, with
focus on the construction dust impacts, as well as operational traffic exhaust
gas emission from the proposed CWB & IECL, and recommends necessary
mitigation measures;
·
Section 4 identifies and
assesses the potential noise impacts associated with the construction and
operation of the Project, and recommends mitigation measures to comply with the
established noise standards, wherever necessary;
·
Section 5 identifies and
assesses the potential hydrodynamic and water quality impacts associated with
the construction and operation of the Project, and recommends mitigation measures
to comply with the established water quality standards;
·
Section 6 identifies and
assesses the potential waste impacts and management associated with the
construction of the Project and recommends mitigation measures to reduce waste
arisings, maximise reuse / recycling and to comply with the established
standards;
·
Section 7 identifies and assesses the potential
impacts associated with the land contamination of the existing workshops and
shipyards within the Project Area, recommends mitigation measures, and proposes
a contamination assessment plan for site investigation works;
·
Section 8 identifies and assesses the potential
terrestrial ecological impacts associated with the construction and operation
of the Project;
·
Section 9 identifies and assesses the potential
marine ecological impacts associated with the construction and operation of the
Project;
· Section 10
identifies and evaluates the potential landscape and visual impacts associated
with the construction and operation of the Project, and recommends mitigation
measures to comply with established standards;
· Section 11 assess
the potential biogas risk associated with the Project;
·
Section 12 presents the Environmental Monitoring and
Audit (EM&A) requirements. The scope
and approach are explained in detail in a stand-alone EM&A Manual;
·
Section 13 summarises and concludes the findings of
environmental impact assessment; and
·
Section 14 includes the Implementation Schedules of
various environmental issues.
1.4.2
Figures are presented in Volume 2 of the EIA Report
and Appendices are contained in Volume 3.
1.4.3
A cultural heritage survey has been carried out
separately by the Antiquities and Monuments Office of the Leisure and Cultural
Services Department (LCSD). The cultural
heritage assessment is presented in Annex A to this EIA Report.