Environment Hong Kong 2009 |
Vision & Mission | Foreword | Permanent Secretary / Director's Message | Contents | Feedback | 繁體 | 简体 | HTML | PDF |
Introduction | Cross-boundary and International Co-operation | Community Awareness | Customer Service and Partnerships | Environmental Assessment and Planning | Air | Noise | Waste | Water | Nature Conservation | Environmental Compliance | Energy | Sustainable Development |
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.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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