Letter to the Editor of SCMP - Response to article about environmental impact assessment

 
Letter to the Editor of SCMP - Response to article about environmental impact assessment

I refer to Ms Christine Loh’s article "Law of the Land" on 8 May 2008.

The Government indeed has required the proponent of the Sha Lo Tung project to conduct a full scale assessment of its environmental implications notwithstanding that it is not a designated project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO).

The design of the proposed columbarium in Sha Lo Tung and the upgrading of the approach road have adopted the principle of avoidance for protection of the eco-sensitive areas. In the current proposal, all the works to be conducted, including the works areas needed for preparation of the construction works, will be completely outside the eco-sensitive areas. Therefore, under the EIAO the proposal is not a designated project and does not require an environmental permit.

Since an important objective of the project is to protect the ecologically sensitive habits in Sha Lo Tung, this department nonetheless considers that a full assessment is needed to demonstrate the environmental acceptability of the proposal. The project proponent has already been required to conduct a full scale assessment of the environmental impacts as well as to go through the same public inspection and consultation process using the same standards and criteria under the EIAO, including seeking advice from the Advisory Council on Environment. For any environmental protection measures found necessary, the Government will ensure implementation and compliance through legally binding contractual arrangements with the project proponent.

CW Tse
Assistant Director
Environmental Protection Department