13.                    Landscape and Visual Impact assessment

Introduction

13.1            This chapter assesses the landscape and visual impact assessment associated with Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2A as Schedule 2 Project under Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO).

13.2            The assessment includes:

·         a definition of the scope and contents of the study, including a description of the assessment methodology,

·         a review of the relevant planning and development control framework,

·         a baseline study providing a comprehensive and accurate description of the baseline landscape resources, landscape character areas and Visual Sensitive Receivers (VSRs),

·         recommendation of appropriate mitigation measures and associated implementation programmes,

·         identification of the potential landscape and visual impacts and prediction of their magnitude and potential significance, before and after the mitigation measures, and

·         an assessment of the acceptability or otherwise of the predicted residual impacts, according to the five criteria set out in Annex 10 of the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM).

13.3            The landscape and visual impact assessment follows the criteria and guidelines as stated in Annexes 10 and 18 of the EIAO-TM. Colour photographs showing baseline conditions, photomontages and illustrative materials supporting conclusions are provided and the locations of all key viewpoints are clearly mapped.  Photomontages at representative locations provide comparison between existing views, proposals on day 1 after completion without mitigation measures, on day 1 completion with mitigation measures, and in year 10 after mitigation measures implemented in accordance with EIAO Guidance Note No. 8/2002.

Environmental Legislation, Standards and Guidelines

13.4            The following legislation, standards and guidelines are applicable to landscape and visual impact assessment associated with the construction and operation of the project:

·         Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap.499.S.16) and the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process (EIAO-TM), particularly Annexes 10 and 18

·         Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance Guidance Note 8/2002

·         ETWB TCW No. 17/2000 - Improvement to the Appearance of Slopes

·         Town Planning Ordinance (Cap 131)

·         Land Administration Office Instruction (LAOI) Section D-12 - Tree Preservation

·         WBTC No. 7/2002 - Tree Planting in Public Works

·         ETWB TCW No. 34/2003 - Community Involvement in Greening Works

·         ETWB TCW No. 2/2004 - Maintenance of Vegetation and Hard Landscape Features

·         ETWB TCW No. 11/2004 - Cyber Manual for Greening

·         ETWB TCW No. 29/2004 - Registration of Old and Valuable Trees, and Guidelines for their Preservation

·         ETWB TCW No. 10/2005 - Planting on Footbridges and Flyovers

·         ETWB TCW No. 3/2006 - Tree Preservation

·         Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap 96) and its subsidiary legislations

·         GEO publication (1999) - Use of Vegetation as Surface Protection on Slopes

·         GEO 1/2000 - Technical Guidelines on Landscape Treatment and Bio-engineering of Man-made Slopes and Retaining Walls

·         HyD TC No.7/2006 – Independent vetting of Tree Works under the Maintenance of Highways Department

·         Government General Regulation 740 – restrictions on the preservation and felling of trees in Hong Kong

·         Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines Chapter 4 and Chapter 11

·         Study on Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong

·         DSD - Guidelines on Aesthetic Design of Pumping Station Buildings; October 2006

·         The Harbour Planning Principles published by the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee (http://www.harbourfront.org.hk/eng/content_page/doc/HEC_guidelines_e.pdf)

Assessment Methodology

13.5            Landscape and visual impacts have been assessed separately for the construction and operation phases.

13.6            The assessment of landscape impacts has involved the following procedures:

·         Identification of the baseline landscape resources found within the sites and works area. This is achieved by site visit and desktop study of topographical maps, information databases and photographs.

·         Assessment of the degree of sensitivity to change of the landscape resources. This is influenced by a number of factors including:

·         quality and maturity of landscape resources/characters,

·         rarity of landscape resources/characters,

·         whether is considered to be of local, regional, national or global importance,

·         whether there are any statutory or regulatory limitations/requirements relating to the landscape resource/characters, and

·         ability of the landscape resource/character to accommodate change.

 

The sensitivity of each landscape resources and character areas is classified as follows:

High:

Important landscape or landscape resources of particularly distinctive character or high importance, sensitive to relatively small changes.

Medium

Landscape or landscape resources of moderately valued landscape characteristics reasonably tolerant to change.

Low:

Landscape or landscape resources of low valued landscape characteristics.

 

·         Identification of potential sources of landscape impacts. These are various elements of construction works and operational procedures that would generate landscape impacts.

·         Identification of magnitude of landscape impacts. The magnitude of the impact (or magnitude of change) depends on a number of factors including:

·         the physical extent of the impact,

·         compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape,

·         duration of impacts i.e. whether it is temporary (short, medium or long term), under construction and operation phases, and

·         reversibility of change.

 

The magnitude of landscape impacts is classified as follows:

Large:

The landscape or landscape resource would suffer a major change.

Intermediate:

The landscape or landscape resources would suffer moderate change.

Small:

The landscape or landscape resources would suffer slight or barely perceptible change.

Negligible:

The landscape or landscape resources would suffer no discernible change.

 

·         Identification of potential landscape mitigation measures. Mitigation measures may take the form of

·         adopting alternative design or revisions to the basic engineering and architectural design to prevent and/or minimize adverse impacts,

·         remedial measures such as colour and textural treatment of physical, engineering and building features, and

·         compensatory measures such as implementation of landscape design measures (e.g. tree planting, creation of new open space etc) to compensate for unavoidable adverse impacts and to attempt to generate potentially beneficial long term impacts.

 

The agencies responsible for the funding implementation, management and maintenance of the mitigation measures are identified.

 

·         Predicted significance of landscape impacts before and after the implementation of the mitigation measures. By synthesising the magnitude of various impacts and the sensitivity of various landscape resources it is possible to categorise impacts in a logical, well-reasoned and consistent fashion. Table 13.1 shows the rationale for dividing the degree of significance into four thresholds, namely insubstantial, slight, moderate, and substantial, depending on the combination of a negligible-small-intermediate-large magnitude of impact and a low-medium-high degree of sensitivity of landscape resource/character.

 

Table 13.1             Relationship between Receptor Sensitivity and Impact Magnitude in Defining Impact Significance

Magnitude of Impact (Change)

Large

Moderate

Moderate / Substantial

Substantial

Intermediate

Slight / Moderate

Moderate

Moderate / Substantial

Small

Insubstantial / Slight

Slight / Moderate

Moderate

Negligible

Insubstantial

Insubstantial

Insubstantial

 

Low

Medium

High

 

Receptor Sensitivity (of Landscape Resource, Landscape Character Area or VSRs)

 

·         Prediction of Acceptability of Impacts. An overall assessment of the acceptability, or otherwise, of the impacts according to the five criteria set out in Annex 10 of the EIAO-TM.

 

13.7            The assessment of visual impacts has involved the followings:

·         Identification of Zones of Visual Influence (ZVIs) during the construction and operation phase of the project. This is achieved by site visit and desktop study of topographic maps and photographs, and preparation of cross-section to determine visibility of the project from various locations.

·         Identification of Visual Sensitive Receivers (VSRs) within the Zone of Visual Influence (ZVIs) at construction and operation stages. These are the people who would reside within, work within, play within, or travel through, the ZVIs.

·         Assessment of the degree of sensitivity to change of the VSRs.

Factors considered include:

·         the type of VSRs, which is classified according to whether the person is at home, at work, at school, at play, or travelling. Those who view the impact from their homes are considered to be highly sensitive as the attractiveness or otherwise of the outlook from their home would have a substantial effect on their perception of the quality and acceptability of their home environment and their general quality of life. Those who view the impact from their workplace and at school are considered to be only moderately sensitive as the attractiveness or otherwise of the outlook would have a less important, although still material, effect on their perception of their quality of life. The degree to which this applies depends on whether the workplace is industrial, retail or commercial. Those who view the impact whilst taking part in an outdoor leisure activity may display varying sensitivity depending on the type of leisure activity. Those who view the impact whilst traveling on a public thoroughfare would also display varying sensitivity depending on the speed of travel.

·         other factors which are considered (as required by EIAO GN 8/2002) include the value and quality of existing views, the availability and amenity of alternative views, the duration or frequency of view, and the degree of visibility.

 

The sensitivity of VSRs is classified as follows:

High:

The VSR is highly sensitive to any change in their viewing experience.

Medium:

The VSR is moderately sensitive to any change in their viewing experience.

Low:

The VSR is only slightly sensitive to any change in their viewing experience.

 

·         Identification of relative numbers of VSRs. This is expressed in term of whether there are very few, few, many or very many VSRs in any one category of VSR.

·         Identification of potential sources of visual impacts. These are the various elements of the construction works and operation procedures that would generate visual impacts.

·         Assessment of the potential magnitude of visual impacts. Factors considered include

·         the compatibility with the surrounding landscape,

·         the duration of the impact,

·         the reversibility of the impact,

·         the scale of the impact and distance of the source of impact from the viewer, and

·         the degree of visibility of the impact, and the degree of which the impact dominates the field of vision of the viewer.

 

The magnitude of visual impacts is classified as follows:

Large:

The VSRs would suffer a major change in their viewing experience.

Intermediate:

The VSRs would suffer a moderate in their viewing experience.

Small:

The VSRs would suffer a small change in their viewing experience.

Negligible:

The VSRs would suffer no discernible change in their viewing experience.

 

·         Identification of potential visual mitigation measures. These may take the form of adopting alternative designs or revisions to the basic engineering and architectural design to prevent and/or minimise adverse impacts, remedial measures such as colour and textural treatment of building features, and tree planting to screen the roads and associated bridge structures. A programme for the mitigation measures is provided. The agencies responsible for the implementation, management and maintenance of the mitigation measures are identified and their approval-in-principle has been sought.

·         Prediction of the significance of visual impacts before and after the implementation of the mitigation measures. By synthesising the magnitude of the various visual impacts and the sensitivity of the VSRs, and the numbers of VSRs that are affected, it is possible to categorise the degree of significance of the impacts in a logical, well-reasoned and consistent fashion. Depending on the combination of a negligible-small-intermediate-large magnitude of impact and a low-medium-high degree of sensitivity of VSRs, the rationale for dividing the degree of significance into four thresholds is shown below, including insubstantial, slight, moderate and substantial,

The significance of visual impacts is categorised as follows:

Substantial:

Adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause significant deterioration or improvement in existing visual quality.

Moderate:

Adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause a noticeable deterioration or improvement in existing visual quality.

Slight:

Adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause a barely perceptible deterioration or improvement in existing visual quality.

Insubstantial:

No discernible change in the existing visual quality.

 

·         Prediction of Acceptability of Impacts. An overall assessment of the acceptability, or otherwise, of the impacts according to the five criteria set out in Annex 10 of the EIAO-TM.

13.8            Funding, implementation, management and maintenance of the mitigation proposals can be satisfactorily resolved according to the principles in ETWB TCW No. 3/2006. All mitigation proposals in this report are practical and achievable within the known parameters of funding, implementation, management and maintenance. The suggested agents for the funding and implementation (and subsequent management and maintenance, if applicable) are indicated in Tables 13.6 and 13.7. Approval-in-principle to the implementation, management and maintenance of the proposed mitigation measures is being sought from the appropriate authorities.

Scope and Content of the Study

13.9            The Project site boundary as shown in aerial photography Figures 13.1.1 to 13.1.9 is demarked the location of existing preliminary treatment works (PTW) in North Point, Wan Chai East, Central, Sandy Bay, Cyperport, Wah Fu, Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau, Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works (SCISTW) and works areas mostly in relation to the sewage conveyance system (SCS). Details of project scope are referred to Section 2. Underground construction works (e.g. SCS construction) would not be a concern under Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.

13.10        In SCISTW, a total of 2 design schemes of deodorizing system are developed as discussed in Chapter 3 Air Quality Assessment, including Option 1 - Centralized design with foul air discharged at 4 locations and Option 2 - Decentralized design with foul air discharged at 9 locations. Option 1, which requires a higher discharge point for foul air from deodorizers, has been adopted for the worst case scenario in the landscape and visual impact assessment of this EIA.

13.11        The assessment of landscape character areas shall include all areas within the PTWs, SCISTW and works areas. The assessment area for the visual impact assessment shall be defined by the zone of visual influence of the Project and associated works.

13.12        In the landscape assessment, the existing and planned landscape resources and character of the assessment areas would be described, appraised, analyzed and evaluated.  Plans of suitable scale showing the baseline landscape resources and landscape character mapping of impact assessment are used to present the findings of impact assessment.  A broad brush tree survey which identifies the species and approximate numbers to be affected is included.  The assessment focuses on the sensitivity of the landscape framework and its ability to accommodate change.  The degree of compatibility of the Project and associated works with the existing and planned landscape settings would be identified. The landscape impact assessment quantifies the potential landscape impacts as far as possible, so as to illustrate the significance of such impacts arising from the Project and associated works.  All landscape impacts are clearly mapped.

13.13        In the visual impact assessment, clear illustrations including mapping of visual impact would be provided.  The assessment includes:

l       Identification and plotting of visual envelope of the Project and associated works,

l       Identification of key groups of sensitive receivers within the visual envelope with regard to views from ground level, sea level and elevated vantage points,

l       Description of the visual compatibility of the Project and associated works within the surrounding, both existing and planned uses, its obstruction and interference with the key views of the adjacent areas, and

l       Description of severity of visual impacts in terms of nature, distance and number of sensitive receivers.  The visual impact of the Project and associated works with and without mitigations shall be assessed, and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures shall be demonstrated.

13.14        The merits of preservation in totality, in parts or total destruction of existing landscape and the establishment of new landscape character areas are evaluated.  Alternative alignment(s), design(s) and construction methods that would avoid or reduce the identified landscape and visual impacts have been evaluated for comparison before adopting other mitigation or compensatory measures to alleviate the impacts.  The mitigation measures proposed would not only be concerned with damage reduction but also include consideration of potential enhancement of existing landscape and visual quality.

13.15        Measures would be included in the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project and associated works to mitigate landscape and visual impact and reduce them to the acceptable levels.  Relevant responsible parties would be identified for the on-going management and maintenance of the proposed mitigation works to ensure their effectiveness throughout the operation phase of the Project and associated works.  A practical programme and funding proposal for the implementation of the recommended mitigation measures would be provided.

Review of Planning and Development Control Framework

General

13.16        The Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Stage 2A aims at intercepting and treating the sewage generated form the populated area in northern and southwestern parts of Hong Kong Island, increasing the treatment capacity to cope with the anticipated population and economic activity growth in the harbour area, and providing a higher level of treatment for all HATS flows to fully meet the water quality objectives set for the Victoria Harbour in the long run.

Review of the Outline Zoning Plans (OZPs)

13.17        A review of the existing and planned development framework for the proposed works and for the surroundings has been considered.  It aims to identify issues for the neighbouring planned land uses, to identify potential resources and sensitive receivers, and to ensure a high compatibility between the proposed project and the surroundings.

13.18        The Study Area is largely covered by OZPs. These are:

l       Draft North Point OZP No. S/H8/21

l       Approved Wan Chai OZP No. S/H5/25

l       Draft Wan Chai North OZP No. S/H25/1

l       Approved Central District OZP No. S/H14/12

l       Approved Central District (Extension) OZP No. S/H24/6

l       Draft Sai Ying Pun & Sheung Wan OZP No. S/H3/21

l       Approved Pok Fu Lam OZP No. S/H10/15

l       Draft Kennedy Town & Mount Davis OZP No. S/H1/15

l       Approved Aberdeen & Ap Lei Chau OZP No. S/H15/24

l       Approved Stonecutters Island OZP No. S/SC/8

The review of OZPs has not only included a review of the plans, but also of the ‘Notes’ and “Explanatory Statements’ which accompany, and form part of, these plans.

13.19        It is considered that the proposed development and associated works are in diverse zoned as Other Specified Use (OU), Government, Institution or Community (GIC) and Open Space (O) while the site for the proposed upgrading works are listed in Table 13.2. It is considered to be compatible with the surrounding in principle following the planning intentions for the Study Area as set out in the OZPs. There also have PTWs or work area located in the zone of open space and other specified use. Mitigation measures will be applied to avoid the adverse landscape and visual impacts in consideration with the surrounding environment.

Table 13.2    Details list of OZPs and Zoning of the proposed development

Location

OZPs

Zoning

North Point PTW

S/H8/21

OU

North Point Temporary works

S/H8/21

GIC

Wan Chai East PTW

S/H25/1

GIC

Wan Chai East Temporary works

S/H25/1

GIC

Central (Sheung Wan) PTW

S/H3/21

GIC

Central Temporary works

S/H3/21

Road, O

Sandy Bay PTW

S/H10/15

GIC

Sandy Bay Temporary works

S/H10/15

O

Cyberport PTW

S/H10/15

OU

Cyberport Temporary works

S/H10/15

OU, O

Wah Fu PTW

S/H10/15

GIC

Aberdeen PTW

S/H15/24

GIC

Aberdeen Temporary works

S/H15/24

OU, O

Ap Lei Chau

S/H15/24

GIC

Ap Lei Chau Temporary works

S/H15/24

OU, GB

Stonecutters SCISTW

S/SC/8

OU

Stonecutters Temporary works

S/SC/8

OU

Baseline Study

13.20        It is considered that all the proposed works area are confined within PTWs, SCISTW and works area and the scale of the project is small. Therefore, the boundary of the Study Area for Landscape Impact Assessment includes all PTWs, SCISTW and works areas within the HATS Stage 2A Project. (refer to Figures 13.1.1-13.1.9)  The Study Area for Visual Impact Assessment is determined by the visual envelope of the Project.  (Refer to Figures 13.3.1 to 13.3.9)

Physical Landscape Resources

13.21        The baseline landscape resources that would be affected during the construction phase and operation phase, together with their sensitivity to change, are described below. The locations of baseline landscape resources are mapped in Figures 13.2.1 to 13.2.9.  Photo views illustrating the landscape resources within the study area are illustrated in Figure 13.2.10.  For ease of reference and co-ordination between text, tables and figures, each landscape resource is given an identity number.

North Point

13.22        LR1 – Trees on PTW and temporary works area at North Point

The existing PTW and temporary work area is located on junction between Java Road and Man Hong Street. There are 109 trees found, 55 of them would be affected by the proposed work in the PTW; including Delonix regia, Melaleuca quinquenervia and Ficus elastica. No tree in the works area would be affected.

Wan Chai East

13.23        LR2 – Trees on PTW and temporary works areas at Wan Chai East

Total 92 number of trees are found in this area and 39 trees would be affected; mostly are Macaranga tanarius, Ficus virens, Melia azedarach and Delonix regia.

Central/Sai Ying Pun

13.24        LR3 – Trees on Central PTW

The existing PTW is located on West Fire Service Street near waterfront of Sheung Wan. There are totally 17 trees and 3 of them would be affected by the proposed works of PTW; and no tree was identified in temporary works areas of Central or Sai Yin Pun; mostly found are Macaranga tanarius, Psidium guajava and Clausena lansium.

Sandy Bay

13.25        LR4 – Trees on PTW and temporary works area at Sandy Bay

The work is located on Sandy Bay Road. There are 43 trees and 34 of them would be affected; including Lagerstroemia speciosa, Bombax celiba and Acacia confuse, Leucaena leucocephala and Ficus hispida.

Cyberport

13.26        LR5 – Trees on PTW and temporary works area at Cyberport

The existing PTW and temporary works areas are located on Cyberport Road. There are 26 trees and 19 of which located in the PTW would be affected; including Lagerstroemia speciosa, Archontophoenis alexandrae, Hibiscus tiliaceus and Terminalia boivinii.

Wah Fu

13.27        LR6 – Trees on PTW at Wah Fu

The existing PTW is located on Waterfall Bay Road. There are 4 trees; including Ficus elastica, Citrus maxima and Macaranga tanarius, and all of them would not be affected by the proposed works.

Aberdeen

13.28        LR7 – Trees on PTW and temporary works areas at Aberdeen

The existing PTW is located on Tin Wan Praya Road. There are 69 trees and 39 trees would be affected by the proposed works; including Caryota ochlandre, Araucaria heterophylla and Ficus microcarpa.

Ap Lei Chau

13.29        LR8 –Trees on PTW and temporary works areas at Ap Lei Chau

The existing PTW is located on Lee Nam Road. There are 38 trees, 8 of them would be affected; including Archontophoenis alexandrae, Macaranga tanarius, Thevetia peruviana, Eucalptus robusta and Plumeria rubra.

Stonecutters Island

13.30        LR9 – Trees on SCISTW and temporary works areas on Stonecutters Island

The location is situated on eastern end of Stonecutters Island; opposite to West Kowloon. There are 247 trees identified and 179 of them would be affected by the works; the existing SCISTW or proposed temporary works areas are bounded by container terminals and logistic transportational network; landscape resources are narrow. They are mainly common species, including Cassia Siamea, Bauhinia Blakeana, Aleurites moluccana, Cinnamomum camphora and Ficus microcarpa.

Landscape Character Area

13.31        All the proposed PTW upgrading work, SCISTW expansion works and construction for SCS would be constructed and operated within or close to the existing PTW or SCISTW. Shaft will be constructed outside PTW at works area; According to the landscape character map of Hong Kong, the exsiting landscape character areas have been indicated in the Figure 13.2.1 to 13.2.9. The proposed project sites are mainly located in the following Landscape Character Areas:

LCA1 – Miscellaneous Urban Fringe Landscape

LCA2 –Civic Urban Waterfront Landscape

LCA3 – Transportation Corridor Landscape

LCA4 – Residential Urban Landscape

LCA5 – Industrial Urban Landscape

 

It is considered that they are compatible with their surrounding environment as they are of small scale and wouldn’t have any negative landscape impact on the exsiting Landscape Character Areas.

Landscape Sensitivity to Change

13.32        The landscape resources and landscape character zones that would be potentially affected during the construction phase and operation phase, together with their sensitivity to change, are listed in Table 13.3.

Table 13.3        List of the Landscape Resources and its Sensitivity to Change

Id. No.

Landscape

Resource

Major Tree Species

(Common, Rare)

Tree Size

(Large, Medium,

Small)

Amenity value of the trees

(Low, Medium, High)

Sensitivity to Change

(Low, Medium, High)

LR1

Trees in PTW at North Point

Common

Medium

Medium

Medium

LR2

Trees in PTW and temporary works areas at Wan Chai East

Common

Medium

High

High

LR3

Trees in PTW at Central

Common

Medium

Medium

Medium

LR4

Trees in PTW and temporary works area at Sandy Bay

Common

Medium

Medium

Medium

LR5

Trees in PTW at Cyberport

Common

Medium

Medium

Medium

LR6

Trees in PTW at Wah Fu

Common

Medium

Medium

Medium

LR7

Trees in PTW and temporary works area at Aberdeen

Common

Medium

High

High

LR8

Trees in PTW and temporary works area at Ap Lei Chau

Common

Medium

Medium

Medium

LR9

Trees in SCISTW and area for disinfection facilities on Stonecutters Island

Common

Medium

Medium

Medium

Except the trees within the projects site boundary and works area, there are other landscape resources including the shorelines, playground and open spaces along the waterfront in the surroundings.But the construction works wouldn’t have negative landscape impacts on them.

Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI)

13.33        The primary and secondary ZVI for the Project during the construction phase are illustrated in Figures 13.3.1 to 13.3.9. Photo views illustrating the Visual Sensitive Receivers (VSRs) within the Study Area are illustrated in Figures 13.3.10 to 13.3.23. Primary ZVI is the area within 1000m from the proposed developments while secondary ZVI is the area with an average distance of more than 1000m from the developments.

Visual Sensitive Receivers (VSRs)

13.34        Table 13.4 lists the key VSRs found within the ZVIs. For ease of reference, each VSR is given an identity number, which is used in all relevant tables and figures in this report. VSR are divided into 6 types: Commercial, Commercial/ Residential, Residential, Recreational, Government/ Institution/ Community / Occupational and Transport related.

13.35        “Frequency of View” depends on the type and nature of VSRs: all Residential VSRs and Commercial/ Residential VSRs are frequent; all other commercial VSRs are occasional; for Government/ Institution/ Community VSRs, institution-related, post-office-related VSRs and those with ‘Glimpse Degree of Visibility’ are rare, all other Government/ Institution/ Community VSRs are occasional; all Recreational VSRs within the waterfront are very frequent, those with ‘glimpse Degree of Visibility’ are rare, the others are occasional; transport related VSRs depends on ‘Minimum Distance between VSRs and Impact Source’ and ‘Degree of Visibility’,

13.36        “Sensitivity to Change” are high for VSRs with medium to many ‘Number of Individuals’, good ‘Quality of Existing View’, 0-200 m ‘Minimum Distance between VSRs and Impact Source’, partial to full ‘Degree of Visibility’ and occasional to very frequent ‘Frequency of View’; “Sensitivity to Change” are low for VSRs with glimpse ‘Degree of Visibility’, more than 950m ‘Minimum Distance between VSRs and Impact Source’, or rare ‘Frequency of View’; otherwise “Sensitivity to Change” are Medium.


Table 13.4        Visual Sensitive Receivers (VSRs) and their Sensitivity to Change

Id. No.

Key Visual Sensitive Receivers (VSRs)

Type of VSRs

Number of Individuals (Many/ Medium/ Few/ Very Few)

Quality of Existing View

(Good/ Fair/ Poor)

Availability of Alternative Views

(Yes/ No)

Degree of Visibility (Full/ Partial/ Glimpse)

Frequency of View (Very Frequent/ Frequent/ Occasional/ Rare)

Sensitivity to Change

(Low, Medium, High)

North Point Area

C1.1

K. Wah Centre

Commercial

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Low

C1.2

625 King’s Road

Commercial

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Low

C1.3

Kodak House

Commercial

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Low

R1.1

Temporary Carpark, Planned Residential Area

Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Low

R1.2

Healthy Garden

Residential

Many

Fair

Yes

Full

Frequent

High

R1.3

614-632 King’s Road

Residential

Many

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

High

R1.4

483-497 King’s Road

Residential

Many

Fair

Yes

Partial

Rare

Medium

R1.5

Healthy Village Estate

Residential

Many

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR1.1

62-76 Marble Road

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Fair

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

CR1.2

Island Place Tower

Commercial/ Residential

Medium

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

GIC1.1

Tin Chiu Road Playground

Recreational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC1.2

Existing Car park, Planned Customs HR Tower

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC1.3

Kai Fong Ass. Madame Chan Wai Chow Memorial School

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC1.4

ICAC North Point Headquarter

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC1.5

Regional Office Water Supplies Dept

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Full

Occasional

Medium

O1.1

Tin Chiu Road Children Playground

Recreational

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Frequent

Medium

O1.2

Sitting Out area near North Point waterfront

Recreational

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

O1.3

Man Hong Street Playground

Recreational

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Rare

Medium

O1.4

King’s Road Playground

Recreational

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

T1.1

King’s Road

Transportational

Medium

Poor

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Low

T1.2

Java Road

Transportational

Medium

Poor

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

T1.3

Island East Corridor Slip Road “F”

Transportational

Medium

Poor

Yes

Full

Occasional

Medium

Wan Chai East Area

C2.1

Harbour Centre

Commercial

Many

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

C2.2

Causeway Centre

Commercial

Many

Fair

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

C2.3

Sun Hung Kai Centre

Commercial

Many

Fair

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

CR2.1

144-159 Gloucester Road

Commercial

Many

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR2.2

160-200 Gloucester Road

Commercial

Many

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR2.3

210-233 Gloucester Road

Commercial

Many

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR2.4

Elizabeth House

Commercial

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR2.5

256-275 Gloucester Road

Commercial

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CDA2.1

Existing Wan Chai Swimming Centre, Planned waterfront open space

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Rare

Low

GIC2.1

Wan Chai Sport Ground

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Rare

Low

GIC2.2

SPCA Hong Kong

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC2.3

Vehicle Emission Testing Centre

Government/ Institution/ Community

Many

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

OU2.1

Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

Recreational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Rare

Low

OU2.2

Cross Harbour Tunnel Rest Garden

Recreational

Medium

Fair

Yes

Glimpse

Rare

Medium

O2.1

Wan Chai Waterfront park

Recreational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

T2.1

Gloucester Road

Transportational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

T2.2

Hung Hing Road

Transportational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

T3.2

Victoria Harbour

Transportational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Low

Central and Sai Ying Pun Area

C3.1

Shun Tak Centre

Commercial

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR3.1

11-47 Connaught Road

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

CR3.2

8-227 Wing Lok Street

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Fair

Yes

Glimpse

Rare

Medium

CR3.3

55-60 Connaught Road

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR3.4

62-87 Connaught Road

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR3.5

88-103A Connaught Road

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

CR3.6

107-128 Connaught Road

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

CR3.7

129-152 Connaught Road

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

CR3.8

Connaught Garden

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

CR3.9

158A-162 Connaught Road West

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Rare

Low

CR3.10

165-167 Connaught Road West

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Rare

Low

CR3.11

168-185B Connaught Road West

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Rare

Low

GIC3.1

Sheung Wan Zone Substation

Government/ Institution/ Community

Few

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC3.2

Waterfront Divisional Police Station

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC3.3

Sheung Wan Fire Station

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC3.4

Western Park Indoor Game Hall

Recreational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

OU3.1

HK Macau Ferry Terminal

Transportational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

OU3.2

Bus Terminal

Transportational

Medium

Fair

Yes

Glimpse

Occasional

Medium

OU3.3

Western Wholesale Market

Commercial

Medium

Good

Yes

Glimpse

Rare

Low

O3.1

Sun Yen Sen Memorial Park

Recreational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

T3.1

Connaught Road

Transportational

Medium

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

T3.2

Victoria Harbour

Transportational

Medium

Fair

Yes

Partial

Rare

Medium

Sandy Bay Area

CR4.1

Residential Block on Sha Wan Drive

Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Rare

Medium

GIC4.1

Canossian Retreat House

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC4.2

Duchess of Kent Children Hospital

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Fair

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC4.3

1-15 Sandy Bay Road

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

GIC4.4

Kennedy School

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Rare

Medium

GIC4.5

HKU Stanley Ho Sport Centre

Recreational

Medium

Good

Yes

Partial

Rare

Low

OU4.1

Chinese Christian Cemetery

Government/ Institution/ Community

Medium

Fair

Yes

Partial

Rare

Low

O4.1

Sandy Bay

Recreational

Few

Good

Yes

Partial

Rare

Low

T4.1

Sandy Bay Drive

Transportational

Medium

Fair

Yes

Partial

Rare

Medium

T4.2

Sea Travellers of Sandy Bay

Transportational

Medium

Fair

Yes

Partial

Rare

Medium

Cybeport Area

R5.1

Lower Baguio Villa

Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

R5.2

Upper Baguio Villa

Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Full

Occasional

Medium

OU5.1

Cyber Centre

Commercial/ Residential

Many

Good

Yes

Partial

Occasional

Medium

OU5.2

Bel-air

Commercial/ Residential

Many