8 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

8.1 Introduction

8.1.1.1 This section presents the landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) for the construction and operation of the Project to outline and examine the landscape baseline conditions of existing landscape resources (LRs) and the landscape character areas (LCAs), the visual amenity, visually sensitive receivers (VSRs), and the planning and development control frameworks within the assessment area. The assessment area includes all areas within 500m from the Project boundary, while the study area for the visual impact assessment is defined by the Visual Envelope of the Project (i.e. a zone of visual influence which should include all areas from which the proposed scheme of the Project can be seen). 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);

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

· recommendations for appropriate mitigation measures and associated implementation programmes; 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 Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance Technical Memorandum (EIAO-TM).

8.1.1.2 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, and photomontages and illustrative materials supporting conclusions are provided and the locations of all key viewpoints have been clearly mapped. Photomontages at representative locations provide a comparison between existing views, proposals on day 1 after completion with mitigation measures, and in year 5 after completion with mitigation measures in accordance with EIAO Guidance Note No. 8/2010.

8.1.1.3 This assessment covered both construction and operational phases (that is, approximately 5-year operation period) of the Project. The assessment assumed that the predicted findings are applicable to a short period of extension, for example, a few years, from the 5-year Project operation.

8.2 Legislation, Standards and Guidelines

8.2.1.1 The LVIA has been conducted in accordance with the following legislation:

· Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) (Cap 499);

· Town Planning Ordinance (Cap 131);

8.2.1.2 Other relevant standards and guidelines include:

· Annexes 10 and 18 of the EIAO-TM;

· EIAO Guidance Note No. 8/2010;

· Study on Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong;

· Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines Chapters 4 and 11;

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

· ETWB TC(W) No. 2/2004 Maintenance of Vegetation and Hard Landscape Features;

· ETWB TC(W) No. 11/2004 – Cyber Manual for Greening;

· ETWB TC(W) No. 29/2004 – Registration of Old and Valuable Trees, and Guidelines for their Preservation;

· WBTC No. 25/92 - Allocation of Space for Urban Street Trees;

· ETWB TC(W) No. 3/2006 – Tree Preservation; and

8.3 Assessment Methodology

8.3.1 Landscape Baseline Review and Impact Assessment

Identification and Examination of Baseline Landscape Resources and Landscape Character Areas

8.3.1.1 A baseline survey of the existing landscape resources (LRs) and landscape character areas (LCAs) was conducted based on desktop study and field surveys to identify available landscape elements which would contribute to landscape characters of the study area. The possible landscape elements include local topography, natural landscapes form and patterns of settlement of built features, land use, streetscapes, and any cultural, historical and/or religious identity.

8.3.1.2 A tree survey was conducted within the Project site and its immediately adjacent areas to identify the landscape resources and quality with respect to the tree species characters, ecological/conservation value, health and structural conditions of the existing trees of the site.

8.3.1.3 The LCAs formed by various broadly homogenous units of similar landscape characters within the study area have been mapped and annotated on a plan.

Assessment of Sensitivity of LRs/LCAs

8.3.1.4 The sensitivity of the LRs/LCAs is rated as “high”, “medium” or “low” and are influenced by rarity or importance, quality and condition and maturity of the landscape elements, statutory or regulatory limitations/requirements relating to the LRs/LCAs and the ability of the LRs/LCAs to accommodate change, together with the significance of the change in local and regional context.

Identification of Sources and Magnitude of Potential Landscape Impacts

8.3.1.5 Potential landscape impacts could arise from both construction and operation of the Project.

8.3.1.6 The magnitude of change for assessing landscape impacts depends on the:

· Compatibility of the Project with the surrounding landscape;

· Duration of impacts under construction and operational phases;

· Scale of development; and

· Reversibility of change.

8.3.1.7 The significance of landscape impacts is defined as follows:

· Significant: the landscape resource or landscape will experience a major change;

· Moderate: the landscape resource or landscape will experience a moderate change;

· Slight: the landscape resource or landscape will experience slight or barely perceptible change; and

· Negligible: the landscape resource or landscape will experience indiscernible change.

8.3.1.8 The degree of significance of landscape impacts has been derived from the combination of the magnitude of change and the sensitivity/tolerance of the LRs/LCAs to the change, as shown in Table 8.1.

Table 8.1 Matrix of Significance of Landscape and Visual Impact

Magnitude of Change	Large	Moderate Impact	Moderate/ Significant Impact	Significant Impact
	Intermediate	Slight/ Moderate Impact	Moderate Impact	Moderate/ Significant Impact
	Small	Slight Impact	Slight/ Moderate Impact	Moderate Impact
	Negligible	Negligible Impact	Negligible Impact	Negligible Impact
		Low	Medium	High
	Sensitivity

8.3.2 Visual Baseline Review and Impact Assessment

Baseline Review of Visual Envelope and Identification of Visually Sensitive Receivers

8.3.2.1 The assessment area for the visual impact assessment has been defined as the Visual Envelope (VE) which includes all areas from which the proposed scheme can be seen or the viewshed formed by natural/manmade features such as existing ridgelines, built development or woodland. The visibility of the Project from key groups of Visually Sensitive Receivers (VSRs) has been determined through site surveys and desktop study of topographical plans and aerial photographs.

8.3.2.2 The Visually Sensitive Receivers (VSRs) have been identified within the VE. Potential VSRs are classified as follows:

· “VSRs-H” who view the proposed Project from their homes are considered most sensitive due to high potential of intrusion on their home environment and their perception of their general quality of life;

· “VSRs-O” who view the proposed Project from their workplaces, institutional and educational buildings are considered relatively less sensitive than the above as the visual amenity will be less important to their perception of quality of life;

· “VSRs-R” who view the proposed Project from recreational landscapes have varying sensitivity to change depending on the types of recreational activity; and

· “VSRs-T” who view the proposed scheme from public roads and railways during travelling on vehicles or on foot have varying sensitivity to change depending on speed and frequency of travel and the type of vehicles used.

Assessment of Sensitivity of VSRs

8.3.2.3 The sensitivity of the VSRs to change is rated as “high”, “medium” or “low” as influenced by the value and quality of existing views, availability and amenity of alternative views, type and estimated number of receiver population, duration or frequency of view and degree of visibility.

8.3.2.4 Typical viewpoints (vantage points) have been identified and photographs showing their current views were taken. Details of the existing and future views have been described in the baseline study.

Identification of Sources and Magnitude of Potential Visual Impacts

8.3.2.5 Potential visual impacts could arise from both construction and operation of the Project. The magnitude of changes for assessing visual impacts would depend on the:

· Compatibility of the Project with the surrounding landscape;

· Duration of impacts under construction and operational phases;

· Scale of development;

· Reversibility of change;

· Viewing distance; and

· Potential blockage of view.

8.3.2.6 The significance of visual impacts was concluded and classified as follows:

· Significant: the VSRs to experience major change in view;

· Moderate: the VSRs to experience moderate change in view;

· Slight: the VSRs to experience minor change in view;

· Negligible: the VSRs to experience indiscernible change in view.

8.3.2.7 The degree of significance of visual impacts has been derived from the combination of the magnitude of change and the sensitivity/tolerance of the VSRs to the change, as shown in Table 8.1 above.

8.3.3 Identification of Potential Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures

8.3.3.1 Wherever possible and necessary, mitigation measures have been considered in order to avoid, reduce, remedy or offset the adverse impacts resulting from the proposed Project. Impact avoidance would be the priority. If impacts cannot be avoided, alternative measures have been explored on methods of reduction and/or compensation. Wherever possible, a design that will enhance the landscape and visual quality has been adopted.

8.3.4 Residual Impacts

8.3.4.1 Impacts remaining after implementation of the recommended mitigation measures (residual impacts) have been identified and thoroughly assessed as follows:

· The impact is beneficial if the Project would complement the landscape and visual character of its setting, follow the relevant planning objectives and improve overall landscape and visual quality;

· The impact is acceptable if the assessment indicated that there would be no significance effects on the landscape, no significant visual effects caused by the appearance of the Project, or no interference with key views;

· The impact is acceptable with mitigation measures if there would be some adverse effects, but these can be eliminated, reduced or offset to a large extent by specific measures;

· The impact is unacceptable if the adverse effects would be considered too excessive and unable to mitigate practically;

· The impact is undetermined if significant adverse effects would be likely, but the extent to which they may occur or may be mitigated cannot be determined from the study. Further detailed study would be required for the specific effects in question.

8.3.5 Photomontages

8.3.5.1 The visual impacts are demonstrated using photomontages to illustrate existing views and future views (Day 1 and Year 5 of the Project operation) from key groups of VSRs to illustrate existing conditions and operational stage conditions in relation to other existing and known planned developments and prominent visual features. Two vantage points have been selected for preparing the photomontages (refer to Figure 8.7): Vantage Point 1 (VP1): on Sheung On Street immediately facing the Project Site; Vantage Point 2 (VP2) at various levels of Tsui Shou House, Tsui Wan Estate. VP1 has been selected at a location from which the Project is most visible to the travellers. VP2 has been selected to represent views from the residents located closest to the Project site.

8.4 Review of Planning and Development Control Framework

8.4.1.1 The Project site is located near the promenade of Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area and bounded by Sheung On Street, Sheung Ping Street, Shing Tai Road and Wing Tai Road, as shown in Figure 8.1. Except for a small portion along the northwestern boundary of the site which has been zoned as “Government, Institute or Community” (“G/IC(2)”) under Amendment Item A1 in the Chai Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/H20/20, the remaining site has been zoned as “Open Space” (“O”) under Amendment Item A2 under the OZP issued on 11 November 2011. The zoning of the site and its surrounding areas is shown in Figure 8.2.

8.4.1.2 According to the OZP, the “G/IC(2)” zone is intended primarily for the provision of Government, institution or community facilities serving the needs of the local residents and/or a wider district, region or the territory. It is, also, intended to provide land for uses directly related to or in support of the work of the Government, organizations providing social services to meet community needs, and other institutional establishments. The “O” zone is intended primarily for the provision of outdoor open-air public space for active and/or passive recreational uses serving the needs of local residents as well as the general public.

8.4.1.3 According to the information from District Lands Office/Hong Kong East, the Project site was defined as Temporary Government Land Allocation (TGLA) No. THK-1856 to EMSD for a vehicle and non-vehicle Workshop. As the permission for the use of this site was granted on a temporary basis, the Project would only result in temporary loss of minor portions of the “G/IC(2)” zone and “O” zone during its 5-year operation period, and would have no significant impacts on the planned uses of the site and its surrounding areas upon termination of the TGLA.

8.5 Landscape and Visual Baseline Study

8.5.1 Landscape Resources (LRs)

Existing LRs in the Study Area

8.5.1.1 This section describes the baseline conditions of existing landscape resources in the area within 500m from the Project site boundary. Figure 8.3 displays the extent of various types of landscape resources within the study area.

LR1 Natural Woodland

8.5.1.2 This category includes the natural woodland below Cheung Man Road (LR1-1), and natural slope On the northeastern side of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (LR1-2):

· LR1-1 Below Cheung Man Road: the natural soil slope below Cheung Man Road is dominated by common native trees species of typical young and disturbed urban woodland habitats, including Macaranga tanarius, Scheffflera heptaphylla, Ligustrum sinense, Mallotus paniculatus, and mixed with some planted ornamentals such as Caryota ochlandra. The periphery of the slope has been invaded with weedy invasive trees, Leucaena leucocephala. The woodland offers good greenery to the public and is considered of high public amenity and of high sensitivity.

· LR1-2 On the northeastern side of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital: these areas refer to several pieces of natural woodland interspersed with the vegetated engineered slope (LR2) adjoining the northeastern boundary of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. The natural woodland is dominated by native secondary woodland tree species, including Macaranga tanarius, Mallotus paniculatus, Litsea glutionsa, Ficus hispida, Alangium chinense, Sapium discolor, Bridelia tomentosa, Sterculia lanceolata, and woody climbers such as Byttneria aspera, understory herbs such as Alpinia hainanensis, with canopy gaps invaded by exotic weeds such as Leucaena leucocepha, the exotic climber Ipomoea cairica and Mikiana micrantha. The overall species composition suggests that the woodland is more mature and of higher native plant species diversity than the urban woodland type (e.g. LR1-1). LR1-2 is considered to have high amenity value, with good linkage to the natural hillside habitats behind the hospital and is considered to be of high sensitivity.

LR2 Vegetated Engineered Slope

8.5.1.3 This category includes the vegetated engineered slope above Cheung Man Road (LR2-1), slope adjoining Chong Gene Hang College (LR2-2), and that on the northeastern side of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (LR2-3):

· LR2-1 Above Cheung Man Road: the slope is a cut-slope planted with a few trees including the exotic tree species, Casuarina equisetifolia, Melaleuca cajuputi subsp. cumingiana and native tree species Macaranga tanarius, with a grassy ground cover dominated by hydro-seeding grasses and weedy vegetation. The slope vegetation consists of mainly exotic plants and due to poor soil quality (e.g. drought and shallow soil) it is not a suitable habitat for natural regeneration of native plant communities. The slope is considered a common human-modified landscape resource in the study area and is considered to have low plant diversity comprising mainly planted exotic species, though it can provide a certain greenery area in the urbanized environment. This type of LR can be easily re-created through slope upgrading works and replanting. The slope is considered to be of medium amenity value and medium sensitivity.

· LR2-2 Adjoining Chong Gene Hang College: this LR2-2 refers to the engineered slope below Chong Gene Hang College. The slope is a cut slope covered with hydro-seeding grasses and weedy vegetation, with the slope toe planted with common roadside trees such as Bauhinia sp. Similar to LR2-1, this slope consists of mainly planted exotic trees and provides minimal opportunities for natural regeneration of natural woodland due to poor soil quality. This type of LR can be easily re-created through slope upgrading works and replanting. This slope is considered to be of medium amenity value and medium sensitivity.

· LR2-3 On the northeastern side of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital: this LR refers to the engineered slopes interspersed with natural woodland (LR1-2) adjoining the northeastern side of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. The engineered slopes have been planted with exotic trees such as Bauhinia sp., Delonix regia, Eucalyptus citriodora, Casuarina equisetifolia and Pinus elliottii interspersed with spontaneously established native secondary woodland tree species such as Ficus hispida, Macaranga tanarius, Bridelia tomentosa, Sterculia lanceolata, Mallotus paniculatus, Alangium chinense, and herbaceous species such as Blechnum orientale, Miscanthus chinensis, Neyraudia reynaudiana with canopy gaps and edges invaded by exotic weeds including Leucaena leucocephala and Mikania micrantha. The species composition suggests that the woodland on the engineered slopes is changing from exotic plantation to young secondary woodland. The regenerated young secondary woodland is less resilient to changes/ disturbances than exotic plantings (e.g. LR2-1 and LR2-2) as it would take approximately up to 20 years for natural regeneration of woodland of similar maturity. LR2-3 has a good linkage to other woodland habitats in the adjacent Tai Tam Country Park and is considered of high amenity value and high sensitivity.

LR3 Park / Recreation

8.5.1.4 LR3 covers public parks/ public rest gardens, playgrounds, sport grounds, and sitting-out areas within the study area:

· LR3-1 Chai Wan Park: Chai Wan Park is one of the largest public parks in Hong Kong. It measures around 7 hectares in size, with a wide range of recreational and landscape features. Dominant plant species include Bauhinia sp., Lagerstroemia speciosa and Ficus benjamina. As these resources consist of generally well-vegetated areas and are rare in the study area, LR3-1 is considered of high public amenity value and high sensitivity.

· LR3-2 Cheung Man Road Rest Garden: This garden is separated by Island Eastern Corridor from Chai Wan Park. Dominant plant species include Bauhinia sp. and Ficus benjamina. This small garden is well-vegetated and considered of high amenity value and high sensitivity.

· LR3-3 Wing Tai Road Garden: Wing Tai Road Garden is another public park/ rest garden immediately adjacent to Chai Wan Park. Dominant plant species include Bauhinia sp., Acacia confusa, Casuarina equisetifolia, and Delonix regia. This park together with Chai Wan Park offer a continuous well-vegetated recreational area to the public in Chai Wan. This LR is considered of high amenity value and high sensitivity.

· LR3-4 Tsui Wan Estate Playgrounds, tennis court and sitting-out area: The recreational grounds offer well-vegetated recreational areas and provide good greenery environment to the residents of Tsui Wan Estate. Dominant plant species include Acacia confusa and Ficus microcarpa. LR3-4 is considered of high amenity value and high sensitivity.

· LR3-5 Yue Wan Estate Playgrounds: LR3-5 refers to the playgrounds with well-vegetated areas and sitting-out areas providing a high amenity recreational ground to the residents of Yue Wan Estate and the public. Dominant plant species include Acacia confusa, Melaleuca quinquenervia, Delonix regia and Ficus microcarpa. This LR is considered of high amenity value and high sensitivity.

· LR3-6 Sheung On Street Playground and Football Fields: These sport grounds and playground offer recreational areas and create openness to harmonize the densely built area in the vicinity. Dominant plant species include Bauhinia sp. and Delonix regia. This LR is considered of medium amenity value and high sensitivity.

· LR3-7 Sitting-out area at Kam Yuen Lane: Similar to LR3-6, this sitting-out area at Kam Yuen Lane provide recreational ground to the public and create visual openness from ground level to harmonize the densely built area in the vicinity. Dominant plant species include Bombax ceiba and Acacia confusa. This LR is considered of medium amenity value and high sensitivity.

LR4 Roadside Plantings

8.5.1.5 LR4 refers to all the roadside planting areas within the study area. The roadside plantings are dominated by mainly common exotic tree species/ ornamentals of young to semi-mature age, in generally fair to good health conditions due to regular maintenance. Disturbances (e.g. site clearance) to this LR4 are considered reversible as LR4 can be reinstated through re-vegetation. LR4 includes the following:

· LR4-1 Along Cheung Man Road (dominant plant species including Spathodea campanulata);

· LR4-2 Along Island Eastern Corridor (dominant plant species including Peltophorum pterocarpum and Michelia x alba);

· LR4-3 Along Shun Tai Road (dominant plant species including Dalbergia balansae and Chukrasia tabularia);

· LR4-4 Along Wing Tai Road (dominant plant species including Ficus microcarpa and Senna surattensis);

· LR4-5 Along Sheung On Street (dominant plant species including Spathodea campanulata);

· LR4-6 Along Chong Fu Road, Sheung Mau Street, Sheung Tat Street and Shing Tai Road (dominant plant species including Spathodea campanulata and Bombax ceiba);

· LR4-7 Along Chai Wan Road (dominant plant species including Bauhinia sp. and Garcinia subelliptica); and

· LR4-8 Along Fung Yip Street, Sun Yip Street and Ka Yip Street (dominant plant species including Melaleuca quinquenervia and Podocarpus macrophyllus).

8.5.1.6 These roadside planting areas provide greenery to soften the urban environment especially the transport routes within the study area. This LR is considered of medium to high amenity value and medium sensitivity.

LR5 Residential Plantings

8.5.1.7 LR5 refers to the landscape planting area within residential development of the study area. These landscape plantings are dominated by mainly common exotic tree species/ ornamentals of young to semi-mature age, and generally in fair to good health conditions due to regular maintenance. Disturbances (e.g. site clearance) to this LR5 are considered reversible as LR5 can be reinstated through re-vegetation. LR5 includes the following:

· LR5-1 At Tsui Wan Estate (dominant plant species including Aleurites moluccana and Ficus microcarpa);

· LR5-2 At Yue Wan Estate (dominant plant species including Acacia confusa and Melaleuca quinquenervia);

· LR5-3 At Tsui Lok Estate (dominant plant species including Ficus microcarpa); and

· LR5-4 On the Roof of Carpark of Hang Tsui Court (dominant plant species including Ficus microcarpa and Delonix regia).

8.5.1.8 These areas offer well-vegetated area adjoining the recreational ground/ facilities of the residential developments, and help soften the densely built-up environment residential areas. These LRs are considered of high amenity value and high sensitivity.

LR6 Open Space Vegetation

8.5.1.9 This LR refers to the spontaneously/naturally established vegetation of disturbed habitat types (dominant species including Ficus hispida, Macaranga tanarius and the weedy species, Leucaena leucocephala) and/or a few planted ornamentals (e.g. planted ornamentals such as Ficus benjaminia, Ligustrum sinensis) within the unused open space/ vacant land. Almost all these plant specimens are opportunistic, pioneer species and highly tolerant to environmental stresses within the degraded urban landscape. They are generally resilient to disturbances and can be regenerated easily with limited resources (e.g. soil and moisture). This LR6 includes::

· LR6-1 On Chai Wan Road;

· LR6-2 Bounded by Shing Tai Road, Wing Tai Road, Sheung Ping Street and Sheung On Street (including trees of the Project site); and

· LR6-3 Bounded by Sheung On Street , Sheung Mau Street, Sheung Tat Street and Shing Tai Road.

8.5.1.10 Though much of the vegetation of LR6 belongs to weedy vegetation, it is considered to offer some greenery to the densely-built areas, and is considered of medium amenity value and medium sensitivity.

LR7 Open Space/ Vacant Land

8.5.1.11 LR7 refers to the unused open space/ vacant land in the study, including:

· LR7-1 Bounded by Shing Tai Road, Wing Tai Road, Sheung Ping Street and Sheung On Street (including the Project site); and

· LR7-2 Bounded by Sheung On Street, Sheung Mau Street, Sheung Tat Street and Shing Tai Road.

8.5.1.12 LR7 belongs to human created habitats which can be re-created easily. LR7 is considered of low amenity value although it offers spatial relief from the surrounding densely built area. It is considered of medium sensitivity compared to the vegetated area.

LR8 Cargo Handling Basin (Water Bodies)

8.5.1.13 LR8 refers to sea area bounded by reclaimed land adjoining Sheung On Street and Ka Yip Street, including LR8-1 Bounded by Sheung On Street and Kai Yip Street. Although its coastline has been straightened to form the cargo handing area, the basin area (the water body) belongs to natural resources and cannot be re-created. It offers very high amenity value to the viewers from road level to high level. LR8-1 is considered to be of high sensitivity to due its visual prominence and high public amenity value.

Magnitude of Change to Existing LRs in the Study Area

8.5.1.14 Given the proposed development to be in line with the permitted land use of the TGLA and the proposed works footprint to be confined to a small area at Sheung On Street, it would not result in any significant change to all the off-site existing landscape resources in the study area except for LR6-2 (open space vegetation of the Project site) and LR7-1 (open space/ vacant land of the Project site). Potential impacts from the Project on LR6-2 (open space vegetation of the Project site) will be limited to removal of 10 weedy tree specimens of Leucaena leucocephala (an undesirable weedy tree species) and a dead tree, and felling of 10 trees which belong to very common and widespread native tree species as detailed in Section 8.5.3. The magnitude of change to LR6-2 is considered intermediate given the tree species to be removed are opportunistic species and can be regenerated easily in degraded urban environment. Potential impacts from the Project on LR7-1 (open space/ vacant land of the Project site) will result in converting the existing open space/ vacant land (the Project site) into the proposed vehicle maintenance workshop comprising only low-rise structures/ facilities. The proposed development will result in loss of approximately 2,040 m² of LR7-1 (open space/vacant land) within the 5-years of Project operation. Given the short period of Project operation and the Project site (within LR7-1) with proposed low-rise structures/ facilities can still offer spatial relief as that provided by the existing open space (LR7-1), the magnitude of change to LR7-1 is considered small.

8.5.1.15 The baseline conditions of on-site landscape resources (i.e. LR6-2) in relation to existing trees of the Project site are described in Section 8.5.3.

8.5.2 Landscape Character Areas

8.5.2.1 A total of seven landscape character areas (LCAs) formed by various broadly homogenous units of similar landscape characters were identified within the 500m study area, as shown in Figure 8.4. These areas include:

LCA1 – Hillside Landscape

8.5.2.2 LCA1 refers to the natural hillside woodland just behind Chai Wan Park and that surrounding Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and its adjoining vegetated engineered slope connected to the natural hillside woodland of Tai Lam Country Park. Most of the natural woodland within LCA1 is dominated by young native secondary woodland tree species, including Macaranga tanarius, Mallotus paniculatus, Litsea glutionsa, Ficus hispida, Alangium chinense, Sapium discolor, Bridelia tomentosa, Sterculia lanceolata, and woody climbers such as Byttneria aspera, understory herbs such as Alpinia hainanensis, with canopy gaps invaded by exotic weeds such as Leucaena leucocepha, the exotic climber Ipomoea cairica and Mikiana micrantha; while the adjoining vegetated engineered slope consists of both recently regenerated native woodland and plantation. LCA1 is considered to be least resilient to changes/ disturbances among all the LCAs in the Study Area and it would take up to 20 years for natural regeneration/ succession of woodland of similar age.LCA1 is a rare type of LCAs due to naturalness of the native woodland and its good connection with the natural hillside woodland of adjacent protected areas (Tai Lam Country Park), itis considered to have high amenity value and high sensitivity.

LCA2 – Community/Residential Urban Landscape

8.5.2.3 LCA2 it refers to the built up and densely populated area in Chai Wan District dominated by high-rise residential buildings and medium to high-rise buildings of community services such as schools and hospitals, and traffic roads with limited open space. LCA2 is considered to be the largest LCA within the study area and is one of the most common landscape characters in Hong Kong. LCA2 consists of only human-created landscape features and can be easily re-created. LCA2 is considered to be of low to medium amenity value and of moderate sensitivity.

LCA3 – Park Landscape

8.5.2.4 LCA3 is formed by Chai Wan Park and its adjoining rest garden and other sitting-out areas providing an extensive recreational open space to the southwest of the Project site. LCA3 is dominated by planted ornamentals (as detailed in the descriptions of LR3 in Section 8.5.1.4) of generally medium to high amenity value and in fairly good health/ physical conditions due to regular maintenance. Although LCA3 comprises almost human created landscape features and can be re-created, it is not a common LCA in other parts (other than the southwest portion) of the Study Area. LCA3 is considered to be of high sensitivity.

LCA4 – Industrial Urban Landscape

8.5.2.5 LCA4 refers to the built-up area dominated by industrial buildings along the coast of Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area. LCA4 is a common landscape character in Chai Wan area and in Hong Kong, and consists of man-made features that are resilient to changes/ disturbances. LCA4 is considered to be of low sensitivity.

LCA5 – Railway Viaduct Landscape

8.5.2.6 LCA5 refers to the MTR viaduct connecting Chai Wan MTR Station and Heng Fa Chuen MTR Station. It is a very common human created feature and it forms the most prominent visual obstruction to the viewers within the study area. LCA4 is considered highly resilient to change and isconsidered to have minimal visual amenity value. LCA5 is of low sensitivity.

LCA6 – Cargo Handling Basin Landscape

8.5.2.7 LCA6 refers to the cargo handling basin (water bodies) and its adjoining designated cargo handing area bounded by Sheung On Street and Ka Yip Street. It is only partially visible to travellers on Sheung On Street and Ka Yip Street due to the existing screens/fencing. However, it becomes more prominent to viewers at medium to high-level (e.g. those viewers from adjacent industrial buildings). The water bodies of LCA6 are natural landscape resources and cannot be re-created. LCA6 is considered to have high amenity value and high sensitivity.

LCA7 – Open Car Parks/Maintenance Workshops

8.5.2.8 LCA7 refers to those uncovered car parks and open space for use as maintenance workshops/ bus depots along Sheung On Street, including the Project site. This LCA is common in urban areas throughout Hong Kong and as a human created landscape it can be re-created easily. It offers little amenity value and is considered of moderate sensitivity.

8.5.2.9 As the proposed land use (a one-storey vehicle maintenance workshop comprising a steel cover of 5.2m high and uncovered area for parking/ accommodation of facilities) of the Project site in the TGLA would still be in line with the current landscape character (i.e. LCA7 – Open Car Parks/ Maintenance Workshops) and would not result in any change to the existing urban setting of the study area, no significant change to existing landscape characters of the study area due to the proposed development are anticipated, except for loss of some greenery due to felling of the weedy vegetation/ trees within the Project site.

8.5.3 Existing Trees within the Proposed Site

8.5.3.1 A tree survey was conducted on 8 September 2011 by a Certified Arborist of International Society of Arboriculture. A total of 31 tree specimens were identified within or close to the project site boundary as included in Appendix 8.1. Approximately 32% of the surveyed trees belong to the invasive exotic species Leucaena leucocephala which are scattered throughout the proposed Project site; about 50% of the surveyed trees belong to the common native species Macaranga tanarius concentrated on/just outside the southern boundary of the Project site. Of the total 31 trees, five trees (or ~16% of surveyed trees) were found to have poor tree form but generally in fair health condition, 11 trees (or ~35% of surveyed trees) were found to be in poor health and tree forms. A total of 14 of the remaining trees (or ~45% of the surveyed trees) were found in generally fair health and tree form. One dead tree was recorded within the survey area. Table 8.2 summarises the tree species composition within the tree survey area.

Table 8.2 Tree Species Composition within Survey Area

Scientific Name	Chinese Common Name	Species Origin	No. of Trees	% of Trees
Celtis sinensis	朴樹	Native	2	6.5%
Leucaena leucocephala	銀合歡	Exotic	10	32.3%
Ligustrum sinense	山指甲	Native	1	3.2%
Macaranga tanarius	血桐	Native	16	51.6%
Morus alba	桑	Native	1	3.2%
Dead tree	死樹	--	1	3.2%
		Total	31	100%

8.5.3.2 No registered or potential Old and Valuable Trees (OVT) were recorded during the tree survey and no rare or protected species were encountered. Detailed information of the surveyed trees is presented in the Tree Assessment Schedule in Appendix 8.1.

8.5.3.3 Of the total 31 trees surveyed, 29 trees would be of direct conflict with the proposed development, including 21 trees (or their significant portions) located within the proposed project footprint. Among these 21 trees, 10 trees belong to the invasive exotic tree species, Leucaena leucocephala (銀合歡) which is considered as an undesirable, self-seeded weedy species for which tree compensation control requirements for tree removal would not be applicable to the normal horticultural maintenance of these weedy trees, in accordance with ETWB TC(W) No. 3/2006. These 10 specimens of L. leucocephala are proposed to be removed during site clearance work. In addition, one dead tree (T017) was identified within the site and the proposed works footprint and is proposed to be removed during site clearance work. Removal of these weedy, undesirable or dead trees is considered as normal horticultural maintenance work during site clearance and not require tree compensation in accordance with ETWB TC(W) No. 3/ 2006.

8.5.3.4 Another 10 trees are proposed for felling due to low post-transplanting survival rate that does not justify transplanting. All the trees to be felled belong to very common native tree species, including 6 specimens of M. tanarius, two specimens of C. sinensis, one tree of M. alba and one tree of L. sinense, which are all widespread in Hong Kong. .

8.5.3.5 The proposed development will result in the felling/ removal of 21 trees as described above. The remaining 10 trees outside the project footprint will be retained on-site and no pruning would be required.

8.5.3.6 Table 8.3 summarises the number of trees for each type of recommendation in the tree survey area. Figure 8.5 indicates the tree recommendations for all the surveyed trees.

Table 8.3 Summary of Proposed Action for Surveyed Trees in Tree Survey Area

Tree Survey Area

Proposed Action on Surveyed Trees

Retain

Remove

(Weedy Trees, i.e. Leucaena leucocephala and Dead Tree)

Fell

Sheung On Street, Chai Wan

8.5.4 Existing Visual Context

Visual Envelope

8.5.4.1 Due to the existing developments, the Visual Envelope (VE) of the proposed Project would be largely confined to the built area along Sheung On Street, Ka Yip Street, Ping Sheung Street and Wing Tai Road, residents from medium to high-level of Tsui Wan Estate (including Tsui Hong House, Tsui Shou House and Tsui Fuk House), and selected occupants of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital. The extent of the VE is shown in Figure 8.6.

Key Visually Sensitive Receivers (VSRs)

8.5.4.2 Within the VE, the key VSRs are grouped according to the settlement of developments, travellers and occupational receivers of similar nature. The selected VSRs are representative of views available to viewers at each of the following locations:

· VSR-T1: Travellers at Sheung On Street;

· VSR-T2: Travellers at Sheung Ping Street;

· VSR-T3: Travellers at Wing Tai Road (including travellers on the footbridge);

· VSR-T4: Travellers at Ka Yip Street;

· VSR-H1: Residents of Tsui Shou House, Tsui Hong House, Tsui Fuk House (Tsui Wan Estate);

· VSR-H2: Knight Court (Flat C, D);

· VSR-O1: Chai Wan Industrial City Phase 2;

· VSR-O2: Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area;

· VSR-O3: Yiko Industrial Building, Paramount Building, Ming Pao Industrial Centre (Block A and B);

· VSR-O4: Chivas Godown, Safety Godown Industrial Building, Kerry Godown (Chai Wan);

· VSR-O5: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital Specialist Out-patient Block;

· VSR-O6 (Potential VSR): Educational Institute at Junction of Shing Tai Road and Wing Tai Road; and

· VSR-T/O1: Travellers/Users of Car Park at Sheung On Street.

8.5.4.3 Figure 8.7 shows the locations of the identified VSRs as described as follows:

VSR-T1: Travellers on Sheung On Street

8.5.4.4 These VSRs represent transient passers that comprises frequent travellers including mainly workers from the cargo handling area and the bus depots on Sheung On Street, and travellers using the car parks and occasional travellers from elsewhere. The VSRs can experience glimpsed to full views of the Project site when they are travelling along Sheung On Street, however, they can also be easily distracted by existing buildings (e.g. bus depots) and the coastal area (which offers a more open scenic view of much higher amenity value). As there are a variety of alternative views considered to be of much higher amenity value than that of the Project site, the sensitivity of these VSRs to visual change to the Project site is considered low to medium. Figure 8.8 shows the existing views and the photomontages showing the view of the proposed scheme at Vantage Point 1 on Sheung On Street.

VSR-T2: Travellers on Sheung Ping Street

8.5.4.5 These travellers can only occasionally glimpse the proposed steel shelter structure (the cover of the maintenance workshop) as their views are significantly blocked by the roadside trees and the existing car park on Sheung Ping Street. Given these VSRs are often transient passers and they can be easily distracted by the harbour view and other tall buildings along the road, they are considered to be of low sensitivity to visual change to the Project site.

VSR-T3: Travellers on Wing Tai Road (including travellers on the footbridge)

8.5.4.6 These VSRs are all transient passers including mainly residents and workers in the vicinity. Their views are often blocked by the existing footbridge structure and/or the roadside trees and trees along the central divider of the traffic road on Wing Tai Road. These VSRs can experience glimpsed to partial view when they travel along the road. Due to the sheltered environment of the footbridge, the amenity value of the existing view available to the footbridge travellers is considered to be low. These VSRs also have very limited alternative views. VSRs outside the footbridge but along the road will have relatively more alternative views. The overall sensitivity of these VSRs to the visual change to the Project site is considered low.

VSR-T4: Travellers on Ka Yip Street:

8.5.4.7 These VSRs comprise mainly transient passers including workers of the cargo handling area and the adjacent industrial buildings, and occasional travellers from elsewhere. These VSRs can only have a distant glimpsed view of the Project site (very likely just the steel shelter) when they travel along the road, with views often blocked by the fencing of the cargo handling area. These VSRs can also be easily distracted by the sea view from the cargo handling basin which is considered of high amenity value, the sensitivity of these VSRs is considered to be low.

VSR-H1: Residents of Tsui Shou House, Tsui Hong House, Tsui Fuk House (Tsui Wan Estate)

8.5.4.8 These VSRs can have a distant partial to full view of the Project site at medium to high level, while their view of the Project site will be significantly blocked by the existing roadside trees on Wing Tai Road at a lower level (at 6th floor or below). The most sensitive VSRs of this group will be those residents at medium level who can have a relatively closer and almost full aerial view of the site than those residents at high level. However, due to the limited size of the Project site and its existing low amenity value, the viewers of VSR-H1 will be often distracted by more distant view of the harbour area and other streetscapes in the vicinity, which are considered to have much higher amenity value compared to that of the Project site. The sensitivity of these VSRs is considered to be low. Figure 8.8 displays the existing views and the photomontages showing the views of the Project site from various levels of Tsui Shou House (Vantage Point 2).

VSR-H2: Knight Court (Flat C, D)

8.5.4.9 These VSRs are residents from a high level who can only have a distant glimpsed view of the Project site and their views are often distracted by the harbour view and the existing streetscape in the vicinity of much higher amenity value. The sensitivity of these VSRs is considered to be low.

VSR-O1: Chai Wan Industrial City Phase

8.5.4.10 The occupational receivers on the northwestern side of the building can view the Project site from medium to high level, with partial to full view, while their views will be blocked by existing settlement and roadside trees at low level. However, as these VSRs are mostly workers who are expected to have fewer chances to view the Project site when they are at work, they are considered to be of low sensitivity to visual change to the Project site.

VSR-O2: Marine Department Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area

8.5.4.11 These VSRs can have limited partial view of the Project site as their views are often blocked by the existing fencing of their work area. Also, these VSRs will be easily distracted by the sea view of much higher amenity value than that of the Project site. Given these VSRs are mostly workers who are expected to have fewer chances to view Project site when they are at work, they are considered to be of low sensitivity to visual change to the Project site.

VSR-O3: Yiko Industrial Building, Paramount Building, Ming Pao Industrial Centre (Block A and B)

8.5.4.12 Similar to VSR-O1, these VSRs are occupational receivers on the northwestern side of the buildings and can have a glimpse of the Project site from medium to high level, with views from lower level often blocked by existing settlement and roadside trees. Similar to VSR-O1, VSR-O3 are also considered to be of low sensitivity to visual change given their view will be easily distracted by the harhour area and they should have fewer chances to view the Project site when they are at work.

VSR-O4: Chivas Godown, Safety Godown Industrial Building, Kerry Godown (Chai Wan)

8.5.4.13 The occupational receivers on the southwestern sides of the buildings can have a distant glimpse of the Project site from medium to high level, while their views from low level will be blocked by the cargo handling area. However, due to the close proximity to the harbour area, these VSRs can be easily distracted by the harbour view and the cargo handling activities such that they will only infrequently view the Project site. The sensitivity of these VSRs is considered to be low.

VSR-O5: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital

8.5.4.14 These VSRs represents the workers and patients of the hospital who only occasionally glimpse the Project site at long distances. Their views are often distracted by the existing streetscape in the vicinity and the wide harbour view which are of much higher amenity value compared to that of the Project site. The sensitivity of these VSRs to visual change to the Project site is considered to be low.

VSR-O6 (Potential VSR): Educational Institute at Junction of Shing Tai Road and Wing Tai Road

8.5.4.15 These VSRs represent the occupational receivers/ users of the proposed educational institute at the Junction of Shing Tai Road and Wing Tai Raod, immediately adjacent to the Project site. The construction phase of the proposed education institute will be tentatively from the third quarter in 2013 to the third quarter of 2016. The construction phase of the proposed institute will overlap with some period (likely to be restricted to a few months) of the construction phase of the proposed EMSD work shop, while the operational phase of the institute will overlap with approximate 10 months of the operational phase of the EMSD Hong Kong Workshop. VSR-O6 will have a “glimpsed to partial view” to the Project site during the operational phase. VSR-O6 is considered to be of low to medium sensitivity to visual change given that it will not experience the change of the existing Project site from vacant land to a maintenance workshop, and the views of the occupants from the facility will be easily distracted by the harbour area and the fact that the occupants would not be able to view the Project site when in the classrooms.

VSR-T/O1: Travellers/ Users of Car Park at Sheung On Street

8.5.4.16 These VSRs comprise occasional travellers and users of the uncovered car parks who are considered to be transient passers-by in these areas (except for the security guards of the car parks). These VSRs can occasionally view the Project site however their views are often blocked by the existing trees and fences separating the car parks and the Project site. Users of the car parks are considered to be of low sensitivity to change as they are occupied by parking activities and will only stay at the area for a very short time. The security guards of the car parks are usually working at the security guard booths and are not able to view the Project site within the sheltered booths. They are considered to be of low sensitivity to change.

8.5.4.17 Table 8.4 summarizes the identified VSRs and their sensitivity to change.

Table 8.4 Identified VSRs and Their Sensitivity to Change

Identity of VSRs	Quality of Existing View (Good/ Fair/Poor)	Availability and Amenity (High/ Medium/ Low) of Alternative Views	Degree of Visibility (Full/ Partial/ Glimpse)	Estimated Population of Viewers (Large/ Intermediate/ Few/ Very Few)	Frequency of View (Frequent/ Intermittent/ Occasional/ Rare)	Sensitivity to Change (High/ Medium/ Low)
VSR-T1: Travellers on Sheung On Street	Fair	Yes and High	Glimpsed to Full	Few	Occasional	Low to Medium
VSR-T2: Travellers on Sheung Ping Street	Fair	Yes and High	Glimpsed	Few	Occasional	Low
VSR-T3: Travellers on Wing Tai Road (including travellers on the footbridge)	Poor to Fair	Limited and Low to Medium	Glimpsed to Partial	Few	Occasional	Low
VSR-T4: Travellers on Ka Yip Street	Fair to Good	Yes and High	Glimpsed (at long distance)	Intermediate	Occasional	Low
VSR-H1: Residents of Tsui Shou House, Tsui Hong House, Tsui Fuk House (Tsui Wan Estate)	Fair to Good	Yes and High	Partial to Full	Intermediate	Intermittent	Low
VSR-H2: Knight Court (Flat C,D)	Fair to Good	Yes and High	Glimpsed (at long distance)	Few	Rare	Low
VSR-O1: Chai Wan Industrial City Phase 2	Fair to Good	Yes and High	Partial to Full	Intermediate	Occasional	Low
VSR-O2: Marine Department Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area	Good	Yes and High	Glimpsed to Partial	Intermediate	Occasional	Low
VSR-O3: Yiko Industrial Building, Paramount Building, Ming Pao Industrial Centre	Fair to Good	Yes and High	Glimpsed (at long distance)	Intermediate	Occasional	Low
VSR-O4: Chivas Godown, Safety Godown Industrial Building, Kerry Godown (Chai Wan)	Fair to Good	Yes and High	Glimpsed (at long distance)	Intermediate	Occasional	Low
VSR-O5: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital	Fair to Good	Yes and High	Glimpsed (at long distance)	Intermediate	Rare	Low
Potential VSR-O6: Educational Institute at Junction of Shing Tai Road and Wing Tai Road	Fair to Good	Yes and High	Glimpsed to Partial	Intermediate	Occasional	Low to Medium
VSR-T/O1: Travellers/ Users of Car Park at Sheung On Street	Poor to Fair	Yes and High	Glimpsed to Partial	Few	Rare	Low

8.6 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment

8.6.1 Construction Phase Impacts

Landscape Impacts

8.6.1.1 The proposed development would result in the felling of 10 trees which belong to very common and widespread species in Hong Kong. However, due to the limited size of the site and the proposed land use (EMSD maintenance workshop), no space would be allowed for on-site tree compensation. In addition, the trees to be felled are mainly concentrated on the southern site boundary, along which there are still other existing large trees just outside the site that will be retained (as indicated as “tree to be retained and pruned” as shown in Figure 8.5). The site and the proposed development would still be well screened on the southern boundary by the retained trees and the existing footbridge. The resulting landscape and/or visual impacts from proposed tree felling are considered low.

8.6.1.2 Off-site tree compensation would be implemented at the EMSD Tuen Mun Vehicle Servicing Station, 202 Lung Mun Road, Siu Lang Shui, Tuen Mun. The compensatory planting regime would include the planting of thirty-one (31) heavy standard trees (assuming of trunk diameter at least 75mm) of aggregated trunk diameters of 2,325mm to compensate the 10 trees lost (of aggregated trunk diameters 2,321mm) due to the proposed Project. The compensatory trees would meet the at least 1:1 compensatory planting ratio in terms of number of trees and aggregated trunk diameters, as required in ETWB TCW No.3/2006. The proposed compensatory planting scheme is presented in Figures 8.9-8.10.

Visual Impacts

8.6.1.3 Construction phase visual impacts would result from site formation work, construction of new building structures, temporary stock piling and use of construction equipment. The proposed construction works would tentatively commence in August 2012 and last for approximately 14 months.

8.6.1.4 Given the limited footprint of the proposed works, no significant impacts on the identified LRs and LCAs would be anticipated. The proposed works would not result in any significant impacts on the visual quality and amenity available to the identified existing VSRs except for the users of car parks (VSR-T/O1) adjacent to the Project site who have limited views and are located at close proximity to the site. However, these VSRs would only rarely view the Project site as they would be concentrating on parking activities. Given the Project site would be screened off by construction site hoarding, no significant visual impacts on these VSRs are anticipated during the construction phase of the Project.

8.6.1.5 The potential VSR-O6 users of the education institute located immediately adjacent to the Project site do not exist until the late operational phase of the Project. No construction phase impacts on VSR-O6 are anticipated.

8.6.2 Operational phase Impacts

Landscape Impacts

8.6.2.1 The main operational phase landscape impacts would be limited to the introduction of a steel shelter of approximately 5.2m high within the Project site and some other maintenance facilities. As the proposed scheme is confined to a small area at Sheung On Street and would be operated for approximately 5 years only, the Project site can be resumed for its planned uses in the OZP after termination of the TGLA and is not considered to result in any significant operational impacts in the long term. The Project is also not considered to have any operational impacts on off-site landscape resources and landscape character areas in the vicinity given its limited footprint and short duration of operation.

8.6.2.2 Table 8.5 below summarizes the magnitude of change and the significance of impacts on LRs and LCAs.

Visual Impacts

8.6.2.3 The existing site (i.e. LR7-1) is of low amenity value (currently a vacant land overgrown with mainly weedy trees) and the proposed scheme would result in a neat and tidy-looking site with a 5.2 high steel shelter with some low-rise maintenance facilities. The proposed temporary use of the site would be in line with other maintenance workshops in the vicinity (e.g. those maintenance facilities of the adjacent bus depots). The Project site would, also, be of similar landscape character (with much of the site remained uncovered) compared to the adjacent open space/uncovered car parks. The magnitude of visual change to the Project site during operation is considered to be small.

8.6.2.4 Table 8.6 summarizes the magnitude of change of views of and the significance of impacts on the identified VSRs.

Table 8.5 Magnitude of Change for LRs and LCAs and Significance of Landscape Impacts during Construction and Operational Phases

LR/LCA ID No.	Landscape Resources/ Landscape Character Areas	Sensitivity (Low, Medium, High)	Magnitude of Change (Negligible, Small, Intermediate, Large)	Impact Significance Threshold Without Mitigation (Negligible, Slight, Moderate and Significant)	Mitigation Measures	Significance of Residual Impact after Mitigation during Construction/ on Day 1 of Operation/ in Year 5 of Operation
LR1	Natural Woodland
LR1-1	Below Cheung Man Road	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR1-2	On the Northeastern Side of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR2	Vegetated Engineered Slope
LR2-1	Above Cheung Man Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR2-2	Adjoining Chong Gene Hang College	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR2-3	On the Northeastern Side of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR3	Park/ Recreation
LR3-1	Chai Wan Park	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR3-2	Cheung Man Road Rest Garden	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR3-3	Wing Tai Road Graden	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR3-4	Tsui Wan Estate Playgrounds, Tennis Court and Sitting-out Area	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR3-5	Yue Man Estate Playgrounds	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR3-6	Sheung On Street Playground and Football Fields	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR3-7	Sitting-out Area at Kam Yuen Lane	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR4	Roadside Plantings
LR4-1	Along Cheung Man Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR4-2	Along Island Eastern Corridor	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR4-3	Along Shun Tai Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR4-4	Along Wing Tai Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR4-5	Along Sheung On Street	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR4-6	Along Chong Fu Road, Sheung Mau Street, Sheung Tat Street and Shing Tai Street	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR4-7	Along Chai Wan Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR4-8	Along Fung Yip Road, Sun Yip Street and Ka Yip Street	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR5	Residential Plantings
LR5-1	At Tsui Wan Estate	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR5-2	At Yue Wan Estate	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR5-3	At Tsui Lok Estate	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR5-4	On the Roof of Carpark of Hang Tsui Court	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR6	Open Space Vegetation
LR6-1	On Chai Wan Road	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR6-2	Bounded by Shing Tai Road, Wing Tai Road, Sheung Ping Street and Sheung On Street	Medium	Intermediate	Moderate	On site landscape mitigation measures (Section 8.7 refers) and off-site tree compensation	Slight/ Slight/ Slight
LR6-3	Bounded by Sheung On Street, Sheung Mau Street, Sheung Tat Street and Shing Tai Street	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR7	Open Space/ Vacant Land
LR7-1	Bounded by Shing Tai Road, Wing Tai Road, Sheung Ping Street and Sheung On Street	Medium	Small	Slight	The project design has sought to incorporate only low-rise temporary structures to alleviate the possible impacts on visual openness offered by the LR	Slight/ Negligible/ Negligible
LR7-2	Bounded by Sheung On Street, Sheung Mau Street, Sheung Tat Street and Shing Tai Street	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LR8 Cargo Handling Basin (Water Bodies)
LR8-1	Bounded by Sheung On Street and Ka Yip Street	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LCA1	Hillside Landscape	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LCA2	Community/Residential Urban Landscape	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LCA3	Park Landscape	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LCA4	Industrial Urban Landscape	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LCA5	Railway Viaduct Landscape	Low	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LCA6	Cargo Handling Basin Landscape	High	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable
LCA7	Open Car Parks/Maintenance Workshops	Medium	Negligible	Negligible	Nil	Not Applicable

Table 8.6 Magnitude of Change for Identified VSRs and Significance of Visual Impacts during Construction and Operational Phases

VSRs	Compatibility of the Project with Surrounding Landscape (High/ Medium/ Low/ Nil)	Duration of Impacts (Long/ Medium/ Short/ Nil)	Scale of Development in Relation to Surrounding Baseline Conditions (Large/ Medium/ Small/ Negligible)	Reversibility of Change	Shortest Viewing Distance (m)	Potential Blockage of View (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible)	Magnitude of Change (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible	Sensitivity of VSRs	Significance of Visual Impacts (without mitigation) during Project Operation (1)	Mitigation Measures (Construction/ Operation)	Significance of Residual Impact after Mitigation during Construction/ on Day 1 of Operation/ in Year 5 of Operation
VSR-T1: Travellers on Sheung On Street	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	Immediate	Negligible	Small	Low to Medium	Slight to Moderate Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Slight/ Slight/ Slight
VSR-T2: Travellers on Sheung Ping Street	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	128	Negligible	Negligible	Low	Negligible Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-T3: Travellers on Wing Tai Road (including travellers on the footbridge)	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	4	Negligible	Small	Low	Slight Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-T4: Travellers on Ka Yip Street	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	299	Negligible	Negligible	Low	Negligible Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-H1: Residents of Tsui Shou House, Tsui Hong House, Tsui Fuk House (Tsui Wan Estate)	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	54	Negligible	Small	Low	Slight Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Slight/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-H2: Knight Court (Flat C,D)	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	358	Negligible	Negligible	Low	Negligible Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-O1: Chai Wan Industrial City Phase 2	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	147	Negligible	Negligible	Low	Negligible Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-O2: Marine Department Chai Wan Public Cargo Working Area	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	15	Negligible	Negligible	Low	Negligible Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-O3: Yiko Industrial Building, Paramount Building, Ming Pao Industrial Centre	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	313	Negligible	Negligible	Low	Negligible Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-O4: Chivas Godown, Safety Godown Industrial Building, Kerry Godown (Chai Wan)	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	443	Negligible	Negligible	Low	Negligible Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-O5: Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	252	Negligible	Negligible	Low	Negligible Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
VSR-T/O1: Travellers/ Users of Car Park at Sheung On Street	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	Immediate	Negligible	Small	Low	Slight Impact	Erection of site hoarding/ Use of low-rise structures with green finishes (Section 8.7)	Negligible/ Negligible/ Negligible
Potential VSR-O6: Educational Institute at Junction of Shing Tai Road and Wing Tai Road	High	Short (Construction/ Operation)	Negligible	Yes	Immediate	Intermediate	Not Applicable	Low to Medium	Moderate	Use of rolling curtains to screen off the western boundary of the Project site (maintenance workshop)	N.A./ Slight/ Slight

Note (1): All impacts are adverse unless noted as being beneficial