1.                  INTRODUCTION

 

1.1.       In 1993 the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) commissioned a Sewerage Master Plan (SMP) study of the Outlying Islands. The areas studied included: Lantau Island, Lamma Island, Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and some other smaller islands to the west and south of Hong Kong.  The SMP was completed in 1994 and made recommendations, which included some improvements and extensions to the existing sewerage infrastructure.

 

1.2.       Further to the SMP Study, Drainage Services Department (DSD) was commissioned by Environmental Protection Department (EPD) to carry out a Preliminary Project Feasibility Study (PPFS) for the Outlying Islands Sewerage Stage 1 Phase II in 1996.  The Project, which forms part of the Outlying Island Sewerage Project, includes the design and construction of sewerage at Cheung Chau, Peng Chau and Lamma Island (Sok Kwu Wan and Yung Shue Wan).

 

1.3.       Package J, which is one of the packages under the Outlying Islands Sewerage Stage 1 Phase II, consists of provision of sewage treatment and disposal facilities as well as a sewerage system including pumping stations and rising mains to collect and transfer the sewage and wastewater arising from the Sok Kwu Wan catchment areas to the proposed sewage treatment and disposal facilities.  On 1st May 1998 Drainage Services Department (DSD) commissioned Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd (MCAL) as lead consultants to implement the Outlying Islands Sewerage Scheme Stage 1 Phase II works, Package J Sok Kwu Wan Sewage Treatment and Disposal Facilities (hereinafter termed the Project) under Agreement No. CE 20/96. 

 

1.4.       The submarine sewage outfall is classified as designated project under Schedule 2 Part 1, F.6 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO).  According to the draft Lamma Island Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/I-LI/4, a pumping station (P1a), some of the sewer alignments and the proposed sewage treatment works (STW) fall within Conservation Area (CA) and hence these works are also classified as designated projects under Schedule 2 Part 1, Q1 of the EIAO.  Maunsell Environmental Management Consultant Ltd. was commissioned by MCAL to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study in order to assess the potential environmental impacts arising from the construction and operation phases of the Project.

 

1.5.       The purpose of this EIA study is to assess the environmental issues arising from the construction and operation phases of the Project, and to recommend appropriate mitigation measures for all identified adverse environmental impacts.