1.1.1
Sai Kung River, Ho Chung River and Pak
Kong River are the watercourses causing flooding problems in Sai Kung town
centre, Ho Chung and Pak Kong. These watercourses remain natural with irregular
cross sections along most of their lengths. Although engineering works have
been locally carried out in some parts of the watercourses, flooding persists
due to inadequate flow capacities of these rivers exacerbated by the
development strain in Sai Kung.
1.1.2
Drainage Services Department (DSD)
completed the “Stormwater Drainage Master
Plan in Sai Kung, East Kowloon and Southern Lantau” (DMP Study) and
“Preliminary Project Feasibility Study Report” for the drainage improvement in
Sai Kung in September 2000 and October 2001 respectively.
1.1.3
The DMP Study identified deficiencies
and flooding problems in the existing drainage systems within the study
area. This proposed drainage improvement
works in Sai Kung River, Pak Kong River and Ho Chung Channel are part of the
recommendations in the DMP Study for upgrading three existing drainage capacity.
1.2.1
The proposed project is a Designated
Project under Schedule 2 Part I of the EIAO and requires an environmental
permit under the EIAO for its construction and operation. An application for an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study brief under section 5(1) of the
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was submitted by the Applicant
on 1 November 2001 with a Project Profile (No. PP-149/2001) for the captioned proposed
project.
1.2.2
The purpose of this EIA study is to
provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising
from the construction and operation of the proposed project and related
activities taking place concurrently, and to contribute to decisions on the
overall environmental acceptability of the Project.
1.2.3
The EIA provided an assessment
of the potential environmental impacts associated with the Project, in relation
to the issues specified in the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-088/2001 including
noise, air quality, water quality, waste management, land contamination,
ecology, cultural heritage and landscape & visual resources.
1.3.1
The proposed site of the Project is
located in Sai Kung, which is bounded by the high ground of Ma On Shan, Buffalo
Hill and Kowloon Peak. Surface runoff drains across the area into Port Shelter
to the East via several watercourses.
1.3.2
The project includes drainage
improvement works at three of the watercourses, namely Sai Kung River, Pak Kong
River and Ho Chung Channel. The Sai Kung River flows through box culvert in the
Sai Kung town centre before entering the Sai Kung Hoi. The Pak Kong River runs
alongside Hiram’s Highway before entering a road crossing to Pak Sha Wan. The
Ho Chung River runs alongside Ho Chung Road before passing under Hiram’s
Highway to Pak Sha Wan in the south.
1.3.3
The location plan for the three rivers
in Sai Kung is presented in Figure 1
and the individual layout plans for the improvement works at Sai Kung River,
Pak Kong River and Ho Chung Channel are given in Figures 2 – 4. The
improvement works cover only a limited length at the downstream side of three
rivers while the rest of the rivers will remain at the present conditions. A cross section and schematic sections of
the proposed rivers are presented in Figures
5 - 7.