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Hong Kong Strategic Environmental Assessment Information Kit - Environment Protection Department - HKSAR

Part III : How to Conduct SEA?

A Generic SEA Process - An Iterative Process

Generic Steps of SEA

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Continuous and earliest possible interaction with stakeholders and the public
Understanding the needs, nature & objectives of PPPs
Design/select SEA process & methods
Initial screening & scoping
Base line/background studies
Identify & examine strategic environmental issues & linkages
Identify & evaluate possible options, alternative means & resulting environmental implications
Identify & evaluate preferred options
Determine follow-up actions, monitoring requirements

Step 5 : Identification & Examination of Relevant Strategic Environmental Issues and Linkages

Based on the findings assembled in Step 4, environmental constraints, issues, opportunities as well as their linkages should be identified and examined, providing inputs to the next step where appropriate. In the identification and examination process, both the characteristics of impact generators and impacts receivers should be taken into account. For instance, in RDS2, the impact generators (i.e. railway networks’ and developments’ characteristics) and the impact receivers (i.e. the characteristics on environment and sensitive land uses) should be fully considered.

https://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/p_study/comp_s/hk2030plus/index.htm

During the Study, the following environmental constraints and their possible opportunities were identified and examined in a systematic manner:

Environm-ental Issue

Constraints

Possible
Opportunities

Noise

  • Traffic noise due to increasing transportation pressure between Hong Kong and the Mainland
  • Industrial/Residential interface problem
  • Comprehensive urban renewal
  • Requirement for thick glazing, lockable windows and split air-conditioning system
  • Noise control at source through the incorporation of new technologies and engineering design

Air

  • Air movement restricted within many urban areas due to high-rise buildings
  • Trans-boundary air pollution

Figure 10 - Confined Airsheds identified in HK 2030 : Planning Vision and Strategy

  • Cleaner technology, cleaner fuels
  • Better integration of environmental protection into transport and energy policies and planning

Water Quality
  • The pollution discharges from HK’s neighbouring area
  • The increasing urban population within the Guangdong Province

(click to enlarge)
Figure 11 - Territorial Water Quality Constraints identified in HK 2030 : Planning Vision and Strategy

Figure 11 - Territorial Water Quality Constraints identified in HK 2030 : Planning Vision and Strategy

  • Underground and cavern options for possible future sewage treatment plants
  • Cooperation with Mainland authorities in avoiding water pollution from new major developments

Waste

  • Inadequate landfill sites
  • Reuse and recycling of materials required, e.g. via integrated waste management facilities
Energy and Natural Resources
  • Space for facilities for generation of wind energy, biomass, wave or hydroelectric power is a major constraint when identifying viable options for Hong Kong
  • Use of renewable energy
  • Enhancing the energy performance or efficiency of buildings
Greenhouse Gas
  • Changes to seasonal ambient temperature, ambient CO2 and alterations to rainfall patterns and intensity may put pressure on some of Hong Kong’s native species, reducing the ecosystem’s ability to respond to the predicted environmental changes
  • All opportunities to maintain biodiversity, increase vegetated areas and minimise the release of greenhouse gases must be considered
Risk
  • The existing Potential Hazardous Installations (PHIs) and certain other potentially hazardous linear infrastructure, act as a constraint in terms of the location of future development
  • Cost effective risk mitigation measures, e.g.:
    • reduction of hazardous material inventories;
    • provision of plant safety systems;
    • control of residential development near PHIs;
    • PHI relocation from urban sites to sites in less populated areas.

Besides, the following environmentally sensitive areas were identified and examined:

Site of Special Scientific Interest
Country Parks
Marine Parks

Figure 12 - Environmentally sensitive areas identified in HK 2030 : Planning Vision and Strategy