8. Landscape Visual and Glare Impact Assessment

8.1 Introduction

This section outlines the landscape, visual and glare impacts associated with the proposed Project in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO). Both construction and operation impacts are assessed in accordance with the requirements of the EIA Study Brief section 3.4.9.

This section presents the findings of the assessment of potential landscape, visual and glare impacts of the proposed Project and is structured as follows:

Section 8.2: Provides discussions on existing environmental legislation, standards, guidelines and criteria;

Section 8.3: Describes the assessment methodology adopted for this EIA;

Section 8.4: Provides discussions on planning and development control framework related to this Project;

Section 8.5: Provides a description on the existing landscape and visual baseline conditions;

Section 8.6: Identify potential impact sources of this Project;

Section 8.7: Describes the assessment of landscape impacts due to the Project;

Section 8.8: Describes the assessment of visual and glare impacts due to the Project

Section 8.9: Proposes potential mitigation measures to address the identified impacts;

Section 8.10: Provides discussions on the residual impacts;

Section 8.11: Provides discussions on the cumulative impacts;

Section 8.12: Defines requirements of environmental monitoring and auditing programme; and

Section 8.11: Summarises the key findings of this section.

Assessments have been conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Study Brief and guidelines as stated in Annexes 10 and 18 of the Technical Memorandum on the Environmental Impact Assessment Process and the EIAO Guidance Notes No. 8/2002. The assessment area for the landscape impact assessment included areas within the 500m distance from the site boundary of the Project, while the assessment area for visual and glare impact assessment is defined by the visual envelop of the Project. Based on the assessment, no unacceptable landscape, visual and glare impacts were identified. Details of which are further elaborated in the following subsections.

Appropriate mitigation measures have been recommended to avoid the potential adverse impacts. In addition, cumulative impacts have also been considered in the assessment in order to assess the overall impacts of the works on the surrounding environment.

8.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards, Guidelines and Criteria

The following legislation, standards and guidelines are applicable to the evaluation of landscape and visual impacts associated with the construction and operation of the Project:

¡ EIA Study Brief ESB-198/2008;

¡ Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap.499.S.16) and the Technical Memorandum on EIA process (EIAO-TM), particularly Annexes 3, 10, 11, 18, 20 and 21;

¡ EIAO Guidance Note 8/2002;

¡ Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines;

¡ Approved Tsing Yi Outline Zoning Plan No. S/TY/24;

¡ Draft Kwai Chung Outline Zoning Plan No. S/KC/23;

¡ Approved Stonecutters Island Outline Zoning Plan No. S/SC/8.

8.3 Assessment Methodology

8.3.1 Limits of the Assessment Area

Landscape and visual and glare impacts were assessed separately for the construction and operational phases of the Project. The assessment methodology follows the EIA Study Brief 3.4.9.1 and is presented below.

As required in the EIA Study Brief 3.4.9.2, the limit of the landscape impact study is 500m beyond the limit of the Works (Figure 8.1), while the assessment area for the visual & glare impact study is defined by the visual envelop of the Project.

8.3.1.1 Landscape Impacts

The assessment of landscape impacts involved the following procedures:

¡ Identification of the baseline landscape resources and landscape character areas found within Assessment Area. This is achieved by site visit (noting that the works site is predominantly marine based location) and desktop study of topographical maps, information databases and aerial photographs;

¡ Assessment of the degree of sensitivity to change of the landscape resources and character areas. This is influenced by a number of factors including whether the resources / character areas are common or rare, whether there are any statutory or regulatory limitations/requirements relating to the resources, the quality of the resources, the maturity of the resources and the ability of the resource to accommodate change.

The sensitivity of each landscape resource / character area is classified as follows:

High: Important landscape resource / character area of particularly distinctive character or high importance, sensitive to relatively small changes.

Medium: Landscape resource / character area of moderately valued landscape characteristics reasonably tolerant to change.

Low: Landscape resource / character area, the nature of which is largely tolerant to change.

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

¡ Identification of the 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 resource or character area would suffer a major change

Intermediate: The landscape resources or character area would suffer a moderate change

Small: The landscape resources or character area would suffer slight or barely perceptible change

Negligible: The landscape resources or character area would suffer no discernible change

¡ Identification of potential landscape mitigation measure - Mitigation measures may take the form of:

- Adopting alternative design or revisions to the basic engineering or architectural designs to prevent and/or minimize adverse impacts,

- Remedial measures such as colour and textural treatment of physical, engineering and building features,

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

¡ Predicted significance of landscape impacts before and after the implementation of the mitigation measures - By synthesizing the magnitude of the various impacts and the sensitivity of the various landscape resources it is possible to categorize impacts in a logical, well-reasoned and consistent fashion. Table 8.1 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 resources/character. The significant thresholds are defined as follows:

Substantial:	Negative / positive impact where the proposal would cause significant deterioration or improvement in existing landscape quality
Moderate:	Negative / positive impact where the proposal would cause a noticeable deterioration or improvement in existing landscape quality
Slight:	Negative / positive impact where the proposal would cause a barely perceptible deterioration or improvement in existing landscape quality
Insubstantial:	No discernible change in the existing landscape quality

Table 8.1: Relationship between Receptor Sensitivity and Impact Magnitude in Defining Impact Significance

	Large	Moderate	Moderate / Substantial	Substantial
Magnitude of Impact	Intermediate	Slight / Moderate	Moderate	Moderate / Substantial
	Small	Slight	Slight / Moderate	Moderate
	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
		Low	Medium	High
		Receptor Sensitivity (of Landscape Resource, Landscape Character Area)

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

8.3.1.2 Visual & Glare Impacts

The assessment of visual and glare impacts involved the following:

¡ 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 Visually 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 are classified according to whether the person is at home, at work, at school, at construction and operation stages. These who view the impact from their homes are considered to be highly sensitive as the attractiveness or otherwise of the outlook from their home will 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 of and at school are considered to be only moderately sensitive as the attractiveness or otherwise of the outlook will 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 travelling on a public thoroughfare will also display varying sensitivity depending on the speed of travel.

- Other factors to be considered (as required in the 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 sensitivity 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 terms of whether there are very few, few, many or very many VSRs in any one category of VSR.

¡ Identification of potential sources of visual and glare impacts - these are the various elements of the construction works and operational procedures that would generate visual and glare impacts.

¡ Assessment of the potential magnitude of visual and glare 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 blockage of view

The magnitude of visual and glare impacts is classified as follows:

Large: The VSRs would suffer a major change in their viewing experience

Intermediate: The VSRs would suffer a moderate change 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 and glare mitigation measures - These may take the form of adopting alternative designs or revisions to the basic engineering and architectural design to prevent and/or minimize adverse impacts. A programme for the mitigation measures may be provided if necessary. The agencies responsible for the implementation, management and maintenance of the mitigation measures will be identified.

¡ Prediction of the significance of visual and glare impacts before and after the implementation of the mitigation measures - by synthesizing 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 categorize the degree of significance of the impacts in a logical well-reasoned and consistent fashion. The degree of significance are divided 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 VSRs.

The significance of visual impacts is categorized 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 noticeable deterioration or improvement in existing visual quality

Slight: Adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause 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.

8.4 Review of Planning and Development Control Framework

Following the EIA Study Brief 3.4.9.1 and section 5 of Annex 18 of the EIAO-TM, the proposed Project has been reviewed against the relevant Approved Tsing Yi Outline Zoning Plan No. S/TY/24, Draft Kwai Chung Outline Zoning Plan No. S/KC/23 and Approved Stonecutters Island Outline Zoning Plan No. S/SC/8. As the Project area situates at Rambler Channel, Northern Fairway and Western Fairway and no land works is proposed, no planning and development conflict with these OZPs is identified.

The adjacent area is predominantly zoned as “Industrial” and various “Other Specified Uses” annotated “Container Terminal”, “Container Related Uses”, “Cargo Handling Area” and “Marine Related Uses”’.

No part of the Project will be proposed through any landscape related zonings (such as “Green Belt“, “Conservation Area“ and “Site of Special Scientific Interest“), therefore the Project will not have any conflict with the landscape setting of the area.

8.5 Landscape and Visual Baseline

8.5.1 Landscape Resources (LR)

The baseline landscape resources identified within the Assessment Area, together with their sensitivity to change, are described below. The locations of baseline landscape resources are mapped and illustrated in Figures 8.2a-d.

LR1 – Cheung Fai Road Promenade

Plantation within the Cheung Fai Road Promenade comprising common ornamental species such as Ficus microcarpa, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Caryota mitis, Schefflera arboricola, Calliandra haematocephala, Hymenocallis littoralis and Monstera deliciosa etc. The age range of those trees varies from young to mature trees with typical heights between 3 and 6m. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR2 – Trees at Cheung Tat Road Sitting-out Area

There are approximately 40 trees comprising, besides some common amenity, species such as Livistona chinensis, Cassia surattensis, Bauhinia spp. Phoenix roebelenii etc. Half of the sitting out area is covered by self-seeding species: Leucaena leucocephala and Macaranga tanarius. Most of these are semi-mature trees with a typical height around 4-6m. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR3 – Trees on slope of Cheung Ching Estate

The majority of trees are Acacia confusa and Casuarina equisetifolia species which are common exotic species used widely for reforestation. Bridelia tomentosa, Macaranga tanarius, Ficus hispida etc are widespread native species commonly found on the slope. Most of these trees are mature specimens with typical heights between 4 and 8m. More ornamental species are planted around the playground under the slope, including small tree and shrub species such as Thevetia peruviana, Phoenix roebelenii, Calliandra haematocephala, Excoecaria cochinchinensis, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Aglaia odoratas etc. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR4 – Trees on slope near Parking Space at Cheung Fai Road

There are dense population of Acacia confuse planted on the slope behind the parking space. Leucaena leucocephala is a weedy tree species aggregated to the right portion of the slope. The typical height of these mature trees is around 4 to 7m. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR5 – Trees on slope near Tsing Yi Road

The tree composition includes Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia confuse, Casuarina equisetifolia Leucaena leucocephala and Melia azedarach etc. They are semi-mature to mature trees with typical height of between 4 and 9m. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR6 – Trees on slope behind Rambler Crest

Most of the trees are common plantation species like Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia mangium, Acacia confusa, Casuarina equisetifolia and Eucalyptus robusta. As the area of LR6 was found under site formation work (by others), some of the trees had been removed and thus the density of tree has been reduced. Typical height of those semi-mature trees ranges 3-7m. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR7 – Swimming Pool of Rambler Crest

This is a long swimming pool over 200m in length and about 12m wide. It serves as a major waterscape and recreational area for the residents of Rambler Crest. The sensitivity of this landscape resource is Low.

LR8 – Roadside Trees along Tsing Yi Road

This LR consists of two slopes at both sides of Tsing Yi Road. Plantation species Acacia confusa and self-seeded species Macaranga tanarius cover the whole slope. They are semi-mature trees with height about 3-5m. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR9 – Shrubland Mosaic near Kwai Tai Road

LR9 consists of man made slope and natural slope terrain. Most of the ornamental shrub species are found within the planter of man made slope which includes Allamanda cathartica, Calliandra haematocephala, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Some small native trees and shrubs Mallotus paniculatus Microcos paniculata, Ficus hispida, Ficus superba, Rhus chinensis, Sapium discolour, Sterculia lanceolata were recorded at the natural slope terrain. Trees recorded at this shrubland mosaic are typically of around 3-6m height, ranging from semi-mature to mature. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR10 – Vegetation east of Kwai Yue Street

Vegetation is found mainly located at the boundary slope of the open field which also serves as roadside streetscape for Kwai Tai Road. Common tree species are plantation species like Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia confusa, Cassia siamea, Casuarina equisetifolia Hibiscus tiliaceus, Spathodea campanulata together with self-colonizing tree species like Leucaena leucocephala, Melia azedarach and Broussonetia papyrifera. Most of them are semi-mature to mature trees with typical height of around 4-8m. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR11 – Plantation along Kwai Tai Road

Within the plantation area, the vegetation comprises typical ornamental shrubs and trees. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Ixora chinensis, Thevetia peruviana, Cinnamomum burmannii, Livistona chinensis, Ficus benjamina are the common examples. These trees are of semi-mature to mature stage with typical height about 4-6m. The sensitivity of this LR is Medium.

LR12 – Rambler Channel

The boundary of the Rambler Channel is defined by the predominant artificial coastline of the container terminals. The sensitivity of this LR is Low.

LR13 – Plantation near Sewage Treatment Plant

This landscape resource is characterized by artificial turf with some amenity tree and palm species such as Caryota mitis, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Cinnamomum spp., Michelia x alba, Phoenix spp. The sensitivity of this LR is Low.

LR14 – Marine Water outside Green Island

LR14 is the offshore water outside Green Island. Since there is abundance offshore water in Hong Kong, it is considered to be a landscape resource of Low sensitivity.

8.5.2 Landscape Character Area (LCA)

The following landscape character areas are identified and described below, and their locations are mapped and illustrated in Figures 8.3a-d.

LCA1 – Kwai Tsing Industrial Landscape

This low-lying landscape comprises several container terminals and their associated facilities. The heavy logistics activities create a significantly busy industrial character. It has a Low sensitivity to change.

LCA2 – Tsing Yi Mixed Urban Landscape

This character area contains mainly residential housing and associated recreational facilities, with a small industrial area located at northern boundary of this LCA. It has Low sensitivity to change.

LCA3 – Kwai Chung Urban Fringe Landscape

This character area comprises the open field area, vegetated man-made slope and hillside shrubland. It is a character area of Medium sensitivity to change.

LCA4 – Kwai Tsing Water Channel

This character area is the coastal water lying between Kwai Chung and Tsing Yi. Half of the Rambler channel is enclosed by the container terminals and is characterized by busy marine traffic (cargo shipping). It has a Medium sensitivity to change.

LCA5 – Offshore Waters outside Green Island

This LCA is made up of offshore waters outside Green Island. It is an extensive landscape in Hong Kong and change is considered to be of small magnitude. However, due to the spaciousness and simplicity of this landscape character, it has a Medium sensitivity to change.

8.5.1 Existing Visual Context

Visual Envelope

The visual envelop for the proposed dredging areas is shaped by the urban fringe landscape along the coast of Western Kowloon and North-western Hong Kong Island; and the upland landscape of Lantau and other out-lying islands to the west and south. As required in the EIA Study Brief 3.4.9.2, the visual impact assessment covered the areas of Ma Wan, Tsing Yi, Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Northeast Lantau and Northwestern part of Hong Kong Island.

The Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI) of the Project and key visually sensitive receivers (VSRs) within the ZVI are identified and mapped in Figure 8.4a-b.

Visually sensitive Receivers (VSRs)

Table 8.2 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.

Table 8.2: Key VSRs Identified within the ZVI

ID. No.	Key Visually sensitive Receivers (VSRs)	Type of VSRs	Viewing Distance
VSR1	Ha Kwai Chung Residential Area	Residential	1.5km
VSR2	Kwai Chung Container Terminals	Industrial / Commercial	<10m
VSR3	Tsuen Wan Urban Fringe	Industrial / Commercial / Residential	2.8km
VSR4	Route 8	Travellers	70m (vertical distance)
VSR5	West Kowloon Urban Fringe	Industrial / Commercial / Residential	4.2km
VSR6	Kennedy Town	Residential	3.9km
VSR7	Victoria Road	Travellers	1.4km
VSR8	Pok Fu Lam	Residential	1.7km
VSR9	North Lamma	Residential	2.2km
VSR10	Peng Chau	Residential	5.6km
VSR11	Discovery Bay	Residential	7.1km
VSR12	Disney Land	Travellers	4.9km
VSR13	Ma Wan	Residential	5.2km
VSR14	Terminal 9	Industrial / Commercial	<10m
VSR15	Tsing Yi Residential Area	Residential	280m
VSR16	Travellers across the Harbour	Travellers	6.1km

8.6 Potential Sources of Landscape and Visual Impact

8.6.1 Construction Phase

Sources of impacts in the construction phase include:

¡ Presence of dredgers,

¡ Dredging activities, and

¡ Night lighting.

8.6.2 Operational phase

Sources of impacts in the operational phase would include:

¡ Maintenance dredging activities and the presence of dredgers; and

¡ Night lighting.

8.7 Landscape Impact Assessment

8.7.1 Impacts on Landscape Resources (LRs) and Landscape Character Areas (LCAs)

As dredging activities will only be carried out on the seabed, no conflicts with any of the existing landscape resources and landscape character areas during construction and operational phases have been identified. The impact level is therefore considered to be acceptable.

The assessment of impact on landscape resources and landscape character areas during the construction phase and operational phase is tabulated in Table 8.4.

8.8 Visual and Glare Impact Assessment

An assessment of the potential significance of visual impacts during the construction and operation phases as required in the EIA Study Brief 2.1 (vii), before and after mitigation, is briefly described below, and listed in detail in Table 8.5. This follows the methodology outlined above and assumes that the appropriate mitigation measures identified in Table 8.3 will be implemented.

8.8.1 Visual Impacts during Construction Phase

The visual impacts on existing views during construction will be generated by the physical presence of the operating dredgers and the associated dredging activities.

According to the proposed design, maximum number of dredger to be used will only be three for the whole proposed dredging area. The dredger will be similar in dimension to those typical cargo ships using these two fairways and other Hong Kong waters i.e., around 50m in length and 10m wide. In addition, the proposed dredging areas are fairways for vessels to and from the nearby container terminals. Therefore the introduction of three dredgers into the area and their activities will not be visually intrusive and adverse visual effect is anticipated to be unlikely.

Predicted significance of residual impacts on the VSRs during construction phase is mapped in Figure 8.5 and the details are presented in Table 8.5.

8.8.1.1 Glare impacts during Construction Phase

As required in the EIA Study Brief 3.2.2 (viii), the potential glare impacts during construction covered all the nearby residents in Tsing Yi, Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Lamma Island, Western and Southern Districts and uses of Route 8.

According to the EIAO-TM, glare is included as one of the potential visual impact source which would cause uncomfortable eye feeling by direct or indirect light source.

Potential glare sources include the night lighting associated with the dredgers. As glare impact or uncomfortable eye feelings are subjective, the glare impact assessment adopted a qualitative approach. Some typical light levels are presented below to give a point of reference when considering the current situation.

¡ Major Sports Stadium 1000 to 2000 lux

e.g. Hong Kong Stadium – 1400 lux, 2008 Beijing Olympics Equestrian Venue, Shatin – 1400 lux

¡ Sunny Day 30,000 to 50,000 lux

Lux is a unit used to define illustration. 1 lux is equal to 1 lumen falling on an area of 1 square metre. A lumen is the luminous flux emitted in a solid angle of 1 steradian by a point source having a uniform intensity of 1 candela. The data presented above related to the lighting levels at the receiving end.

The proposed lighting for the dredging activities of the Project will be about 250 lux (illumination level at working plane on the dredgers), which is applicable to both day-time and night-time dredging for 24-hour operation. The lighting aims to provide the operator of the dredger adequate illustration at the workplace. Only one lighting pole would be required for each dredger and the orientation of light will point downward to the operating dredging arm of the dredger and will not be pointing horizontally and to any VSRs. Visa shields to the lights of dredgers will be provided to avoid any potential spill light. Therefore direct glare impact from the light source is not anticipated. Potential glare source would be the reflected light from the working plane on the dredgers. As no mirrors or any other polished materials will be installed on the working plane, reflectance of light will be low. The resulted illumination level experienced by the VSRs will only be 5-20 lux.

Workers of the adjacent container terminal (i.e. VSR2 and VSR14) will be the closest receivers to the potential light source of dredgers of the Project. They will experience an increase of 20 lux due to the Project. The ambient lux level currently received by the workers at the container terminal is 30-80 lux (According to the European Standard EN 12464-2:2007 (which also has the status of a British Standard i.e. BS EN 12464-2:2007) – Lighting of Work Places – Part 2: Outdoor Work Places, the lighting requirement for cargo handling, loading and unloading is 30 lux). In general, an increase of lux level not exceeding 30 lux will not consider as any type of nuisance glare. As such, an increase of 20 lux experienced by the workers at container terminal will therefore not result in adverse glare effect. As expected, other VSRs furthest from the light source will experience much lower amounts of reflected light or glare and an increase of average 5-10 lux is basically not noticeable to all these VSRs.

The proposed dredging works will not cause any glare nuisance, as no man-made light sources are generated directly pointing to VSRs. Visa shields to lights of dredgers will be provided, as well as no facilities or equipment installed with mirrors or any other polished materials. Therefore no unacceptable light sources potentially causing uncomfortable glare effects are anticipated.

8.8.2 Visual and Glare Impacts during Operational Phase

Operational impacts from the Project will occur only if maintenance dredging works are undertaken. Maintenance dredging is anticipated to be undertaken on an infrequent basis and on a lesser scale than for the capital works dredging. However the effects still need to be assessed. In view of the acceptability of the impacts associated with the capital works programme it may be surmised that the maintenance dredging impacts will be similarly acceptable. Therefore, no unacceptable visual and glare effects during the operational phase are anticipated.

8.9 Mitigation Measures

The rationale behind landscape mitigation measures is described in Section 8.3 including the feasibility of mitigation measures in respect of funding, implementation phasing and their management and maintenance. The recommended mitigation measures following the EIA Study Brief 2.1 (vii) are listed below:

Landscape Mitigation Measures

As the proposed Project involves no land works, no conflicts with all existing landscape resources and landscape character areas were anticipated. No specific mitigation measure is required.

Visual and Glare Mitigation Measures

Although no adverse visual and glare effects were identified, some precautionary measures are recommended to ensure the environmental performance in terms of visual and glare nuisance.

The proposed mitigation measures for the construction phase and operation phase of the Project are listed in Table 8-3, together with an indication of Funding, Implementation and Maintenance and relevant Authorities.

Table 8.3 Proposed Visual Mitigation Measures

Mitigation Measure	Visual Mitigation Measures	Funding Agency	Implementation Agency	Maintenance Agency
VM1	Lighting for Dredging Activities – proper site practice for works lighting shall carefully consider the following to avoid light pollution and glare to the surroundings: ¡ Visa shields to the lights of dredgers shall be provided ¡ The light source shall not point directly to any VSRs ¡ Lights shall be switched off if they are not in use	CEDD	CEDD (through Contractor)	CEDD (through Contractor)

Mitigation Measure

Visual Mitigation Measures

Funding Agency

Implementation
Agency

Maintenance Agency

VM1

Lighting for Dredging Activities – proper site practice for works lighting shall carefully consider the following to avoid light pollution and glare to the surroundings:

¡ Visa shields to the lights of dredgers shall be provided

¡ The light source shall not point directly to any VSRs

¡ Lights shall be switched off if they are not in use

CEDD

(through Contractor)

CEDD

(through Contractor)

8.10 Residual Environmental Impact

Potential residual impacts were assessed in accordance with the EIA Study Brief 2.1 (xi).

8.10.1 Residual Landscape Impacts

No residual impacts on existing landscape were anticipated in both construction and operational phase. The impact level is therefore considered to be acceptable. The summary of the impact assessment is presented in Table 8.4.

8.10.2 Residual Visual and Glare Impacts

The residual visual impacts during construction and operation phases are listed in Table 8.5 and illustrated in Figure 8.5. The impact level is considered to be acceptable, as no significant visual effects caused by the Project were identified.

8.11 Cumulative Effect

8.11.1 Potential Cumulative Effects

Potential cumulative effect was assessed as required in the EIA Study Brief 2.1 (xi). Although there are some planned projects adjacent to the Project area as stated in Section 2.8 of the EIA report, taking into account the insubstantial impact significance identified in Table 8.4 and Table 8.5, no adverse cumulative effects are anticipated.

Table 8.4: Summary of Landscape Impact

ID No.	Landscape Resource / Landscape Character	Sensitivity to Change (Low, Medium, High)	Magnitude of Change (Negligible, Small, Intermediate, Large)		Impact Significance without Mitigation (Insubstantial, Slight, Moderate, Substantial)		Recommended Mitigation Measures
ID No.	Landscape Resource / Landscape Character	Sensitivity to Change (Low, Medium, High)	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation	Recommended Mitigation Measures
LR1	Cheung Fai Road Promenade	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR2	Trees at Cheung Tat Road Sitting-out Area	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR3	Trees on slope of Cheung Ching Estate	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR4	Trees on slope near Parking Space at Cheung Fai Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR5	Trees on slope along Tsing Yi Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR6	Trees on slope behind Rambler Crest	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR7	Swimming Pool of Rambler Crest	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR8	Roadside Trees along Tsing Yi Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR9	Shrubland Mosaic near Kwai Tai Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR10	Vegetation east of Kwai Yue Street	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR11	Plantation along Kwai Tai Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR12	Rambler Channel	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR13	Plantation near Sewage Treatment Plant	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LR14	Marine water outside Green Island	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LCA1	Kwai Tsing Industrial Landscape	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LCA2	Tsing Yi Mixed Urban Landscape	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LCA3	Kwai Chung Urban Fringe Landscape	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LCA4	Kwai Tsing Water Channel	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required
LCA5	Offshore Waters outside Green Island	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Not required

Table 8.5: Summary of Visual and Glare Impact

Id No.	Key Visually sensitive Receiver (VSR)	Receptor Sensitivity (Low, Medium, High)	Magnitude of Impact (Negligible, Small, Intermediate, Large)		Impact Significance without Mitigation Measures (Insubstantial, Slight, Moderate, Substantial)		Recommended Mitigation Measures	Residual Impact Significance with Mitigations (Insubstantial, Slight, Moderate, Substantial)
Id No.	Key Visually sensitive Receiver (VSR)	Receptor Sensitivity (Low, Medium, High)	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation		Construction	Operation
VSR1	Ha Kwai Chung Residential Area	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	VM1 (see Table 8.3)	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR2	Kwai Chung Container Terminals	Low	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 20 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 20 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR3	Tsuen Wan Urban Fringe	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR4	Route 8	Medium	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR5	West Kowloon Urban Fringe	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR6	Kennedy Town	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR7	Victoria Road	Medium	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Negligible- the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR8	Pok Fu Lam	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR9	North Lamma	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR10	Peng Chau	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR11	Discovery Bay	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR12	Disney Land	Medium	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR13	Ma Wan	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR14	Terminal 9	Low	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 20 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 20 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR15	Tsing Yi Residential Area	High	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of 5-10 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VSR16	Travellers across the Harbour	Medium	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Negligible - the presence of dredgers and increase of less than 5 lux are not noticeable	Insubstantial	Insubstantial		Insubstantial	Insubstantial