The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was implemented on 1 April 1998. Its purpose is to avoid, minimise and control the adverse impact on the environment of designated projects, through the application of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and the environmental permit (EP) system.

The Ordinance applies to certain types of projects, called "designated projects", which are contained in two schedules. The designated projects in both schedules must go through the statutory EIA process, but only those listed in Schedule 2 require environmental permits. General guidance on the EIAO is provided in the booklet "A Guide to the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance" published by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and available on the EIAO web site (http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia).

Public involvement in the statutory EIA process is a key feature of the Ordinance and a big step forward in the history of EIAs in Hong Kong. Detailed information, such as project profiles, study briefs, EIA reports, environmental permits, the Ordinance and Regulations, and guiding materials are available to the public on the EIAO web site.

Copies of the Ordinance and the Regulations are on sale at the Government Publications Centre. Copies of prescribed forms, the guidebook and the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process are available at the EIAO Register Office of the EPD (27/F., Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong) and the EIAO web site.