Environment Hong Kong 2009
 
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Chapter 5 Envronmental Assessment and Planning

Mission

To pre-empt environmental problems associated with development projects, plans and strategies, by assessing their environmental implications and ensuring that measures are implemented to avoid any potential problems that are identified.

ALWAYS SEEKING TO IMPROVE

Highlights in 2008

In 2008 the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), a landmark in environmental protection in Hong Kong, completed its first decade of operation, having protected more than 1.5 million people and many ecologically sensitive areas from adverse environmental impacts. Remarkably, this has been achieved while allowing for significant input from the public and practitioners to enable continuous improvement to the EIA process in Hong Kong.

Photo - Mai Po is an ecologically sensitive area.

The EIAO requires environmental problems of major development projects to be addressed before decisions are taken. The public is invited to comment during the process and public engagement tools using new technologies have been developed to enhance people's understanding of potential impacts. A higher level of assessment, strategic environmental assessments (SEAs), has also been applied to Government policies, plans and programmes so that environmental issues can be addressed at the earliest stages of planning and decision-making.

The EIAO provides a transparent and systematic statutory framework for assessing the environmental impacts of projects, one that has helped to protect our environment and secure a more sustainable development for Hong Kong.

Prevention and protection

Hong Kong is a small territory with a lot of demands on its limited land resources. Almost seven million people occupy 1 104 square kilometres, an area that includes many hilly terrains and large amounts of green country park that cannot be developed. Conflicts inevitably arise over development and the environment. The EIAO is intended to ensure these are addressed and mitigated at an early stage.

The EIAO came into effect on 1 April 1998, giving legal weight to what had previously been an administrative requirement. Project proponents must submit a project profile in applying for a study brief for carrying out an EIA.  In addition, an environmental permit is required for the construction and operation of the project. (If there are no expected adverse environmental impacts, the proponent can apply directly for an environmental permit.) The public can comment on project profiles and on EIA reports before final decisions are taken.

Public involvement is a hallmark of Hong Kong's EIA process, as described below, and it has contributed to the outcome of major projects in the city. A well-known case was the Lok Ma Chau Spurline railway running through Long Valley, which has a high diversity of birds. The EIA of the original viaduct design indicated potentially adverse ecological impacts from the project and was rejected by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) after taking into account the public comments received. The proponents went back to the drawing board and came up with a tunnel solution that was acceptable to the EPD and the community at large. More recently, arrangements to move the Yiu Lian Floating Dock were altered after fishermen and green groups said the proposed work would be damaging to fish culture zones and the Chinese white dolphin.

Photo - The Lok Ma Chau Spurline railway runs through Long Valley via a tunnel.

Photo - Cyberport at the south of Hong Kong Island.

Mostly, though, proponents demonstrate through EIAs that their projects can meet environmental standards with the implementation of recommended mitigation measures. Many major projects, such as the Hong Kong Disneyland and Cyberport and various railway and highway projects that are important to Hong Kong's development, have been approved. Some have provided good examples of how to control adverse impacts. For example, the EIA on the redevelopment of the old Kai Tak airport site identified land contamination, so remedial work was done to protect present and future residents. The 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Equestrian Events, held in Hong Kong, went through the EIA process and all impacts were effectively controlled, resulting in a successful Olympics.

There are many other examples. The thing to remember is that the EIAO and the EIA process have helped to secure a better environmental outcome even as Hong Kong continues to develop and grow.

Transparency and openness

One of the key reasons for the EIAO's success has been the high degree of transparency in the EIA process. New internet tools have been used and adapted to facilitate public understanding of the environmental impacts of projects and encourage people to comment.

A dedicated EIAO website contains project profiles, EIA reports, environmental permits and decisions, all easily accessible. Environmental monitoring and audit information of current projects is also online so people can monitor the results and data in real time and gauge the effectiveness of the mitigation measures. There are also webcams on key project sites to provide real-time images of site conditions and activities.

Photo - Real-time monitoring by web camera at a wetland site.

Recently, we introduced a 3-D tool that enables the public to view the plan and layout of complex projects from different perspectives, using a simulated "fly-through" to visualise the project in its proposed final form. In 2008 we established an on-line library of projects that used 3-D visualisations to illustrate their major findings.

Photo - Images of 3-D EIA demonstrations.

All of these initiatives together promote continuous public involvement in the EIA process. We also value an open relationship with project proponents and have used various outlets to provide them with information and advice on EIAs, such as a website, guidance notes, workshops, manuals and environmental outcome profiles that highlight actual best practices in Hong Kong. In addition, we have four EIAO User Liaison Groups with membership from about 100 Government departments, consultants, contractors, and private developers and public corporations, who participate in a two-way exchange on EIA experiences and on improving the EIA process. Their feedback helps us to achieve our goal of continuous improvement.

Taking assessment to a higher level

The EIA process applies to specific projects, but policies can have deep and long-lasting environmental effects, too. Strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) enable potential problems to be identified and addressed at the earliest stages, when policies are being formulated.

Photo - The SEA Knowledge Centre provides access to international SEA information.

A recent example was the SEA study for the HK2030: Planning, Vision and Strategy, which was carried out in parallel with the main study and included three stages of public consultations.

Hong Kong has taken a lead internationally in promoting SEAs. We have published the Hong Kong SEA manual. We have also established the SEA Knowledge Centre website that features SEA guidelines, SEA study briefs, and SEA reports from Hong Kong, Mainland China, overseas countries and organisations, as well as other SEA-related information and materials and the SEA manual.

The aim of the website, and indeed all of our efforts in environmental assessment, is to show that it is reasonable and feasible to expect problems to be addressed at the earliest stages. This not only avoids costly mitigation later on, but helps to ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.

Looking Ahead

  • The EIAO guidance notes and guidelines will be reviewed and updated.
  • The 3-D EIA visualisation tool will be refined to facilitate and enhance public participation in the EIA process.
  • Efforts will continue to enhance the web-based SEA Knowledge Centre with additional links to SEA resources in Mainland China and overseas.
 
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