12D DP Package D

12D.1 Introduction

This section reports on the Study to assess the potential landscape and visual impacts arising from construction and operation of any above ground structures and works areas associated with the Schedule 2 DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12 in FLN NDA only.

The components of DP Package D are summarised in Table 12D.1.1 below.

Table 12D.1.1 - Schedule 2 DP Package D

DP Package D
8	Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement (Major Improvement)	A1	A road which is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor road or district distributor road including new roads, and major extensions or improvements to existing road.
9	Fanling Bypass Western Section (New Road)	A1	A road which is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor road or district distributor road including new roads, and major extensions or improvements to existing road.
10	Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road)	A1	A road which is an expressway, trunk road, primary distributor road or district distributor road including new roads, and major extensions or improvements to existing road.
12	Reprovision of temporary wholesale market in FLN NDA	N3	A wholesale market.

12D.2 Review of Planning and Development Control Framework

This section provides an overview of the HKSAR Government’s development intentions, statutory land-use and planning within the Study Areas, specifically from landscape and visual standpoints. It considers relevant, published studies, such as HK2030 Study, OZPs, and DPA Plans. This information has been considered in relation to the relevant revised RODP of the NDAs and their Layout Plans with the aim of assessing whether the Project can fit into the surrounding setting.

During public consultations, people were noted to be concerned about the landscape and visual impacts of the noise barriers specifically. Some people also suggest maximising the greening opportunities. The planning proposal for the NDAs which includes the Schedule 2 DPs therefore aims to minimise the area needing noise barriers and maximize the greening opportunities to reduce the landscape and visual impacts.

12D.2.1 Design measures adopted within the Schedule 2 Designated Projects

The Schedule 2 DPs form the key infrastructure developments to support the future development and population growth within KTN and FLN NDAs. KTN and FLN NDAs will provide a mix of housing types as well as basic infrastructure and community facilities. The development opportunities and constraints of the Schedule 2 DPs are presented in Section 2.4.1, these have informed the development and consideration of alternative infrastructure options. A summary of the key design rationale for each project is provided below:

DP8 - Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement (Major Improvement)

The Po Shek Wu Interchange is currently exceeding its junction capacity. In order to cater for the traffic flow from the FLN NDA, improvement work, including realignment of the Po Shek Wu Road and the construction of an elevated southbound right-turning slip road to bypass the interchange, is proposed.

The selected scheme has been designed to minimise the land total requirement, avoid encroachment upon the proposed neighbouring public rental housing site, Tai Tau Leng village at the west and Choi Po Court at the east. In addition, existing mature tree planting on either side of the road has been taken into account within the alignment. In this case the proposed slip road will be elevated above the existing Po Shek Wu Road, at a level of +20mPD (i.e. road infrastructure has been stacked to reduce the overall footprint and accommodated the improvement works within the existing constraints).

DP 9 - Fanling Bypass Western Section (New Road)

The proposed Fanling Bypass Western Section provides a linkage between the Man Kam To Road and the proposed Fanling Bypass Eastern Section. The planning intention is to arrange the bypass at the northern periphery of FLN NDA alongside Ng Tung River, such that through traffic will be diverted away from the town centre to minimise the environmental impact of the traffic to FLN NDA.

The alignment of the road sits within the level ground to the north of Ng Tung River and generally runs parallel to the channel adjacent to the existing access track. The alignment avoids disruption of more natural topography found to the north.

DP 10 – Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road)

The proposed Fanling Bypass Eastern Section provides a direct bypass linkage between FLN NDA and Sha Tau Kok Road (STKR) with the Fanling Highway Tai Po direction. Generally the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section is wholly elevated, except an underpass portion near Lung Yeuk Tau. There are footbridges across Fanling Highway and at the Lung Yeuk Tau Interchange. A key design measure of this route responds to feedback during the public engagement on improving traffic conditions around STKR Luen Wo Hui Section and Wo Hop Shek Interchange.

In this case the road is elevated predominantly on a viaduct to minimise the proposed land take, disturbance to natural terrain and reduce the operational footprint. The alignment also follows the outer edge of the existing urban development area to avoid further encroachment to the east within the less development and more natural areas.

DP 12 – Reprovision of Temporary Wholesale Market

The North District Temporary Wholesale Market for Agricultural Products will be affected by the NDA development. Reorientation of the existing site in the current location so that it fits with the alignment of the new road (DP 10) is proposed. This approach means this established land use is not displaced to another location, potentially exerting land pressure elsewhere.

The precise details of the development at this stage are not confirmed however the facilities would include temporary style stalls (i.e. moveable) of approximate 2-3m height. The number of stalls would vary depending on seller requirements; this cannot be ascertained at this time. The majority of the facility is the creation of flexible open space/hardstanding to accommodate these facilities. Perimeter security fencing pprox.. 2.5m high to replace the existing would be provided together with an access booth for security personnel.

12D.2.2 Existing Outline Zoning Plans (OZPs)

The review of the OZPs has included a review of the Plans as well as the accompanying Notes and Explanatory Statements. The DP sites and study areas have been superimposed onto existing OZPs and DPA Plans to determine the potential influence on the existing zoning. The study areas and site boundaries for DPs 8, 9, 10, and 12 have been combined on Figure 12.50.4.

The FLN DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12 study areas are covered by the following OZP/DPA documents:

· Draft Fanling/Sheung Shui OZP No. S/FSS/17.

· Approved Fu Tei Au and Sha Ling OZP No. S/NE-FTA/12.

· Approved Kau Lung Hang OZP No. S/NE-KLH/11.

· Draft Lung Yeuk Tau and Kwan Tei South OZP No. S/NE-LYT/15.

· Approved Hok Tau OZP No. S/NE-HT/5.

· Approved Hung Lung Hang OZP No. S/NE-HLH/7.

Table 12D.2.1, summarizes the areas of existing zoning types which will be directly affected by the site boundary of each DP. In some cases, as the DPs are located within or traverse different OZP/DPA areas, this has been highlighted in the tables accordingly.

Table 12D.2.1- Schedule 2 Designated Project 8, 9, 10 and 12.

Zoning Type	OZP/DPA number and extent of zoning within the site boundary that will undergo change (ha)	Comments on Major land use changes
DP8 – Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement
Green Belt (GB)	S/FSS/17 0.42	Approximately 0.42ha of the zoning type would be modified at the junction point with the Fanling Highway south Tai Tau Leng.
Industrial (I)	S/FSS/17 1.87	Approximately 1.87ha of this zoning type located to the west of Po Shek Wu Road would be modified, between Choi Yuen Road and the MTR East Rail line.
Government /Institution / Community (GIC)	S/FSS/17 0.21	Approximately 0.21ha of this zoning type would be modified, adjacent to the MTR East Rail Corridor and to the south of the Fanling Highway corridor.
Other Specified uses	S/FSS/17 0.67	Approximately 0.67ha of this zoning type would be modified. This zoning relates to the MTR East Rail Corridor. The Po Shek Wu Road at this point is elevated on a bridge and would not directly interfere with this zone.
Open Space (0)	S/FSS/17 0.22	Approximately 0.22ha of this zoning would be affected to the south east of Po Shek Wu Road, close to San Wan Road.
Residential (Group A) (R(A))	S/FSS/17 0.61	Approximately 0.61ha of this zoning would be affected to the east of Po Shek Wu Road.
Village Type Development (V)	S/FSS/17 0.85	Approximately 0.85ha of this zoning would be affected to the west of Po Shek Wu Road.
DP9 – Fanling By-pass Western Section (New Road).
Agriculture (AGR)	S/NE-FTA/12 11.2	Approximately 11.2ha of this zoning type would be modified starting from the south of Hung Kiu San Tsuen, through Sheung Shui Wa San and to the junction point with the proposed eastern section of the Fanling Highway north of Shek Wu San Tsuen.
Other Specified Uses (OU)	S/NE-FTA/12 2.33	Approximately 2.33ha of this zoning type would be modified as the alignment of the road passes through Hung Kiu San Tsuen.
Green Belt (GB)	S/FSS/17 1.81	Approximately 1.81ha of this zoning type would be modified as the alignment of the road passes to the south of Wa Shan Tsuen.
DP10 – Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road)
Agriculture (AGR)	S/NE-FTA/12 2.45 S/NE-LYT/15 3.02 S/NE-KLH/11 4.44	A total of 9.91ha of this type of zoning will be modified as a result of the road alignment as it travels from north of Wu Nga Lok Yeung, passes Ma Wat Tsuen and the south of Tong Hang Tung.
Green Belt (GB)	S/NE-FTA/12 0.20 S/FSS/17 5.48 S/NE-LYT/15 1.18	A total of 6.86ha of this type of zoning will be modified as a result of the road alignment
Government /Institution / Community (GIC)	S/FSS/17 0.92 S/NE-KLH/11 1.07	Approximately 0.92 ha of this zoning type would be modified by the alignment of the road as it passes through the existing North District Temporary Wholesale Market for Agricultural Products and Water Supplies Department facilities off Sha Tau Kok Road. An additional 1.07ha of this zoning type would be modified at the southern end of the proposed by-pass where the junction is formed with the existing Fanling Highway to the west of Yuen Leng.
Industrial (I)	S/FSS/17 2.64	Approximately 2.64ha of this zoning type will be modified as the alignment of the road passes by the Fanling Industrial area.
Recreation (REC)	S/NE-LYT/15 1.46	Approximately 1.46ha of this zoning type will be modified as the alignment of the road passes through land located to the west of the Cyber Domaine residential development.
Other Specified Uses (OU)	S/NE-LYT/15 2.32	Approximately 2.32ha of this zoning type would be modified as a result of the alignment of the road. 0.36ha of this total would be associated with the proposed bridge crossing of the MTR East Rail track to the west of the existing Cyber Domaine residential development. The remaining 1.96ha is associated with the petrol filling station and amenity area located adjacent to the Fanling Highway east of Wo Hop Shek.
Open Space (O)	S/FSS/17 0.31	Approximately 0.31ha of this zoning would be affected at Wo Hop Shek as a result of viaduct and noise barrier construction.
DP12 – Reprovision of wholesale market in FLN NDA
Government /Institution / Community (GIC)	S/FSS/17 0.61	Approximately 0.61ha of this zoning type would be modified associated with the existing North District Temporary Wholesale Market for Agricultural Products and Water Supplies Department facilities off Sha Tau Kok Road.
Industrial (I)	S/FSS/17 0.7	Approximately 0.7ha of this zoning type would be modified associated with the existing wholesale market area.

12D.2.3 Summary of land use changes

In summary, Schedule 2 DP 8 and 12 would be largely compatible with the existing planning zones. The main conflicts arise in relation to DP 9 and 10 – Fanling Bypass Eastern and Western Sections which cross numerous OZP zones. In this case, approximately 8.67ha of green belt and 21.11ha of agricultural land would be affected.

12D.3 Landscape Baseline Conditions

According to the Study Brief (ESB-176/2008) baseline review comprises the identification of all existing LR and LCA within 500m of the DP boundaries.

The overall Study Area for all the DPs is very generally natural and rural. Complex LRs can be classified into different major categories, as follows:

· LR1 – Channelized Water Course

· LR2 – Water Course

· LR3 – Water Pond

· LR4 – Marsh/ Wetland

· LR5 – Plantation

· LR6 – Hillside Woodland

· LR7 – Lowland Woodland

· LR8 – Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic

· LR9 – Agricultural Land

· LR10 – Open Space / Recreational Area

· LR11 – Urban Development Area

· LR12 – Rural Development Area

· LR13 – Industrial / Open Storage

· LR14 – Major Transportation Corridor

· LR15 - Columbarium

The LCAs are classified as follows:

· LCA1 Natural Hillside Landscape

· LCA2 Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape

· LCA3 Urban Development Landscape

· LCA4 Industrial Landscape

· LCA5 Lowland Agricultural Landscape

· LCA6 Major Transportation Corridor Landscape

· LCA7 Major Water Course Corridor Landscape

The landscape resources and landscape character areas of each NDA are described in further detail below, together with their sensitivity.

12D.3.1 Broad Brush Tree Survey

A Broad brush tree survey has been carried out within the study areas identifying more than 1000 trees affected by the proposed works. Major tree species included Acacia confusa, Acacia auriculiformis, Araucaria heterophylla, Bauhinia blakeana, Bombax ceiba, Cassia siamea, Celtis sinensis, Cinnamomum camphora, Clausena lansium, Citrus maxima, Dimocarpus longan, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Ficus virens, Ficus microcarpa, Litchi chinensis, Leucaena leucocephala, Macaranga tanarius, Mangifera indica, and Melaleuca quinquenervia. Many trees are found in the foothills of the natural upland, as well as the rural fringe in between different villages and they are generally mature.

12D.3.2 Schedule 2 DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12 Baseline Landscape Resources and Landscape Character Areas

The baseline LRs and LCAs of FLN DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12 are detailed along with their sensitivity; figures presenting this information are set out below:

Figure 12.51.4 presents LRs

Figure 12.51.19 to 27 presents LRs enlarged plan versions

Figure 12.51.57 to 67 for representative images of LRs.

Figure 12.52.4 presents LCAs.

Figure 12.52.11 to 12 for representative images of LCAs.

Table 12D.3.1- Landscape Resources and their Sensitivity- FLN DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12

Id. No.	Landscape Resource (LR)	Quality & Maturity (High /Medium /Low)		Rarity (High /Medium /Low)	Ability to Accommodate Change (High /Medium /Low)		Sensitivity (High /Medium /Low)
FLR 1 - Channelized Water Course
Refers to modified water courses channelized with concrete or grasscrete, or with gabion-fortified banks, water courses undergoing such channelization. This LR includes both large channelized river water courses as well as some much smaller concrete lined water courses associated with agricultural land. This LR also includes some walkways along the larger water course and the vegetation associated with the water course, both within the channel and along the banks as well as the ridge of the banks. The vegetation mainly consists of grasses and shrubs, but also includes trees in some areas as detailed further in the individual LR descriptions.
Within the Study Area this LR includes sections of Ng Tung River, Shek Sheung River and Ma Wat River and is one of the prominent landscape features running across a large part of the Study Area.
1.1	Ng Tung River (Fanling District)	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
Ng Tung River (Fanling District) runs in an east-west direction in FLN NDA Study Area. It collects water from Ma Wat River in the east, then Shek Sheung River and Sheung Yue River further west and finally empties into the Shenzhen River outside the study area. Ng Tung River is modified with grasscrete banks and tree planting is found in its immediate vicinity. Dominant plantation tree species are Acacia auriculiformis and Acacia confusa. Other trees also recorded include Ficus virens and Leucaena leucocephala. The river also includes a nullah in the south of the Study Area and some small channels linking through culverts under the banks of the main channel to smaller channelized watercourses which connect to drainage systems and sometimes to more natural watercourses.
This resource is reasonably tolerant to change and its sensitivity is medium.
1.2	Shek Sheung River	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
Shek Sheung River collects water from the south and flows north, joining the Sheung Yue River west of the Sheung Shui Slaughter House. There is another branch of Shek Sheung River that splits from Ng Tung River and flows round the south of the Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works. Water drained from Tin Ping San Tsuen low land area flows into this branch after passing through a floodwater storage area. This LR is mainly a grasscrete banked, trapezoidal channel, formed for the purpose of flood protection of the Fanling and Kwu Tung areas. Water partially dries out during the dry season and there is only a small amount of water at the base of the channel, with grass on either side. There are grasses and shrubs along the river’s embankment also, as well as trees planted along both sides in many sections of the river. The dominant tree species are exotic, including Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia confusa, Eucalyptus spp. and Leucaena leucocephala. Native trees of lower abundance can also be found, e.g. Celtis sinensis, Cinnamomum camphora, Cleistocalyx operculatus, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus virens and Sapium sebiferum.
Overall this river is relatively tolerant to change and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
1.4	Ma Wat River	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
Ma Wat River runs across the southeast part of the FLN NDA Study Area, passing through industrial, rural and agricultural areas. It joins Ng Tung River near Kan Lung Tsuen. Water in the channel decreases significantly during the dry season when its concrete bottom is often partly exposed and dry. There is grasscrete along both its banks, where Imperata koenigii is one of the dominant grasses. Tree planting consisting of large and mature trees is found in the immediate vicinity of this river. Dominant tree species are Acacia confusa, Ficus microcarpa, Melia azedarach and Leucaena leucocephala. Trees with lower abundance include native (Bauhinia blakeana, Celtis sinensis, Macaranga tanarius and Sapium sebiferum) and exotic (Casuarina equisetifolia and Pterocarpus indicus) species. Overall this river is relatively tolerant to change and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
1.5	Water Course through Ma Shi Po Agricultural Land	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR describes a channelized concrete watercourse flowing through agricultural land from the Ma Shi Po area towards Ng Tung River where it connects through a concrete channelized link. It is likely to have been used for irrigation purposes, but there is limited water flow and the watercourse is polluted by domestic waste. Vegetation associated with this LR includes the herb species Bidens alba, Eleusine indica and Mikania micrantha. This LR is reasonably tolerant to change and its sensitivity is considered to be low.
FLR 2 – Water Course
Refers to natural or semi-natural water courses, including short sections with concreted banks. This LR also includes vegetation associated with the water course, both within the streams and along the banks as well as in the immediate vicinity. The vegetation mainly consists of grasses and shrubs, but also includes some trees in certain areas such as the upland streams, as detailed further in the individual LR descriptions. The vegetation often provides a subtle transition between this LR and its surrounding LR(s).
Within the Study Area, this LR includes watercourses running down from different hills into lowland areas.
2.1	Natural Streams in Tin Ping Shan Agricultural Land	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. Refers to a natural stream passing though Tin Ping Shan (Sacred Hill) agricultural land and finally flowing into the channelized Shek Sheung River. This is a narrow stream with grasses and climbers overgrowing along its banks. The grasses mainly include Bidens alba, Polygonum chinense and Oxalis corymbosa. Although parts of this stream are more natural, much of it passes through development areas and is adjacent to open storage areas. It is degraded by pollution while some sections of the stream are fortified by concrete banks.
This LR has medium tolerance to change and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
2.2	Natural Streams at Cham Shan and Wa Shan	Medium		Medium	Low		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This natural stream comes from Cham Shan and flows down to the lowland rural area in the northwest of the FLN NDA Study Area. It is not perennial and water flow may cease during the dry season. The banks of this stream is overgrown with common grasses such as Alocasia odora, Bidens alba and Panicum maximum, particularly in the upstream sections where it flows through extensive grasslands. Within the downstream sections in lowland rural areas, its banks are partially paved in places and the water quality is low as rubbish is commonly found near and in the stream.
This LR is not of high quality but it is relatively intolerant to change. The sensitivity is considered to be medium.
2.3	Natural Streams at Lung Shan	Medium		Medium	Low		High
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to natural streams located at the foothill of Lung Shan and running through all heavily vegetated areas. The streams are intermittent and cease flowing during the dry season. Grasses and climbers grow along their banks. These include Alocasia odora and Cuscuta chinensis as well as some invasive species such as Mikania micrantha.
This LR is relatively intolerant to change and its sensitivity is considered to be high.
2.4	Natural Streams at Siu Hang San Tsuen	Medium		Medium	Low		High
This LR describes streams at around Siu Hang San Tsuen. Stream banks are colonized by common species such as Commelina diffusa, Polygonum lapathifolium, Alocasia odora and Macaranga tanarius. Part of one stream at Siu Hang San Tsuen is regarded as ecologically important due to its naturalness and moderately diverse aquatic community. This LR is relatively intolerant to change and its sensitivity is considered to be high.
2.5	Natural Streams at Kau Lung Hang, Yuen Leng and Nam Wa Po	Medium		Medium	Low		High
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. Refers to a natural stream passing though Kau Lung Hang San Wai, Kau Lung Hang Lo Wai and Yuen Leng from Kau Lung Hang Shan and finally flowing into the main channel, also includes streams in Nam Wa Po. The streams are intermittent and cease flowing during the dry season. Grasses and climbers grow along their banks such as Alocasia odora, Bidens alba and Panicum maximum. This LR is relatively intolerant to change and its sensitivity is considered to be high.
FLR 3 – Water Pond
Refers to freshwater ponds. The ponds are often associated with agricultural land and used for irrigation, and punctuate the traditional field pattern. Some ponds are also found near residential or developed areas, and have aesthetic, landscape value and some are fish ponds. This LR also includes vegetation associated with the ponds, both within and around the banks as well as in the immediate vicinity. The vegetation mainly consists of grasses and shrubs, with scarce trees.
These water ponds are mainly in Fu Tei Au in FLN NDA and Lung Yeuk Tau.
3.3	Fu Tei Au Water Ponds	Low		Medium	Low		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This is a group of water ponds located between Fu Tei Au Road and Ng Tung River. The ponds were most likely used for commercial fish farming and for irrigation purposes in the past and have now mainly been abandoned. Common grasses (e.g. Bidens alba and Pennisetum spp.) and small trees (e.g. Bombax ceiba and Leucaena leucocephala) grow densely along the banks. Trees are planted or naturally have established themselves on the pond bunds; these include Macaranga tanarius, Litchi chinensis, Dimocarpus longan and Ficus hispida.
The quality and significance of this LR is relatively low, but it is intolerant to change. Its sensitivity is therefore considered as medium.
3.4	Water Ponds in Eastern Rural Area	Low		Medium	Low		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. There are two isolated ponds located in Lung Yeuk Tau in the east of Study Area, one in San Uk Tsuen and the other one in Ma Wat Tsuen. Both are no longer used and not actively managed. Grasses and climbers grow along their banks and are also present in their immediate vicinity. The water surface of these ponds is largely colonized by plants.
This LR has low landscape quality and is small in area but it is relatively intolerant to change. Its sensitivity is medium.
3.5	Wai Loi Tsuen Pond	Low		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR is on the periphery of Wai Loi Tsuen serving as the moat of this traditional village. It has concrete banks and is connected with the Shek Sheung River to its west.
Overall these ponds have medium amenity value and are relatively intolerant to change. This LR’s sensitivity is considered to be high.
3.6	Water Pond in Nam Wa Po	Low		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR is located in Nam Wa Po in the south of Study Area. The ponds were most likely used for commercial fish farming and for irrigation purposes in the past and have now mainly been abandoned. Common grasses (e.g. Bidens alba and Pennisetum spp.) and small trees (e.g. Bombax ceiba and Leucaena leucocephala) grow along the banks. The quality and significance of this LR is relatively low, but it is intolerant to change. Its sensitivity is therefore considered as medium.
Since this is a LR with significant artificial characteristics, it is relatively tolerant to change, however the moat has cultural landscape significance and therefore its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
FLR 4 – Marsh/ Wetland
Refers to freshwater wetland landscape resources. Some of them are found at old river meanders which have been truncated during river channelization and retraining, overgrown with herbaceous vegetation and often with some areas of seasonal or permanent open water.
Within the Study Area, this LR is found along certain sections of Ng Tung River.
4.2	Mitigation Wetland	Medium		High	Low		High
Several plots of marsh are located along Ng Tung River. They were formerly meanders of the river and were isolated during the river channelization. To mitigate the ecological impact resulting from channelization, these areas are now managed by a government department to provide marsh habitat, mainly for wetland dependent wildlife and are hence a wetland landscape resource. Wetland plants and riparian vegetation have been planted and include Commelina diffusa, Hedychium coronarium, Ludwigia perennis and Nelumbo nucifera. Bamboos and trees are also planted along the bunds, e.g. Acacia auriculiformis, Cinnamomum camphora, Hibiscus tiliaceus and Ilex rotunda.
This LR had medium quality and maturity and in general marsh habitats are reasonably rare in Hong Kong. Additionally this LR is relatively intolerant to change so its sensitivity is considered to be high.
FLR 5 – Plantation
Refers to medium sized and larger clusters of trees that have been planted and are distinct from natural woodland in terms of species composition since they have been planted by man. Common tree species in this LR include Ficus virens, Ficus microcarpa, Acacia confusa, Bombax ceiba, Macaranga tanarius and Melaleuca quinquenervia. Further details are given in the individual LR descriptions.
Within the Study Area this LR is found in the vicinity of Wai Loi Tsuen, Hak Ka Wai, Ha Pak Tsuen, On Kwok Villa and Noble Hill.
5.1	Plantation in the Vicinity of Wai Loi Tsuen	Medium		Medium	High		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. A mixture of native and exotic trees is planted around the moat of Wai Loi Tsuen and its vicinity, serving as a good screen for the road and industrial area to the west of the village. Compared to those trees planted immediately along the Shek Sheung River in its vicinity, trees in this plantation have a relatively higher diversity, including native species (Bauhinia blakeana, Celtis sinensis and Ficus microcarpa) and exotic species (Acacia confusa, Aleurites moluccana, Bombax ceiba, Cassia siamea, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus citriodora, Grevillea robusta, Lagerstroemia speciosa and Melaleuca quinquenervia).
This LR has medium amenity value and relatively high capacity to accommodate change and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
5.2	Ha Pak Tsuen Plantation	High		Medium	Low		High
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. A patch of plantation is located to the east of Ha Pak Tsuen. Trees are densely planted within the village as well as along the nearby roads leading to the village to enhance the landscape value of this area. Among these planted trees, Chinese Banyan Ficus microcarpa is one of the most prominent trees as most of them are mature and large. Other tree species include native (Macaranga tanarius) and exotic (Acacia confusa and Bombax ceiba) species.
Although this resource was originally man made, it now has many large, mature trees in a traditional village setting and this is harder to recreate, so it has a relatively low capacity to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is considered to be high.
5.3	Plantation in the Vicinity of On Kwok Villa and Noble Hill	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. There is significant plantation on the periphery of On Kwok Villa and Noble Hill mainly along Tin Ping Road, Lung Sum Road, Ma Sik Road and a branch of Ng Tung River. Trees planted in this area are reasonably mature and dense. They include native (Ficus virens, Ficus microcarpa, Bauhinia blakeana and Macaranga tanarius) and exotic (Bombax ceiba, Cassia siamea, Delonix regia, Eucalyptus spp., Ficus religiosa and Melaleuca quinquenervia) species.
Although trees in this LR provide a certain high landscape value, the trees are set amongst modern residential areas. The LR was originally a man-made resource and is able to be recreated fairly easily meaning it has a reasonable capacity to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is therefore considered to be medium.
5.4	Plantation South of Fanling Highway	High		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR mainly includes a plantation patches found just north of Hong Kong Golf Club and trees commonly recorded in this area include native (Cinnamomum camphora, Ficus virens and Macaranga tanarius) and exotic species (Acacia confusa, Bombax ceiba, Melaleuca quinquenervia and Leucaena leucocephala). Trees in this LR are dense and mature, providing a relatively high landscape value. However, it is a man-made resource and is able to be recreated reasonably easily meaning it has a high capacity to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is therefore considered to be medium.
5.5	Plantation in the Vicinity of Hak Ka Wai	Medium		Medium	High		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This area of plantation is largely associated with the narrow Sheung Yue River channel and the villages of Hak Ka Wai and Tsung Pak Long, including in their playground areas and public facilities. This plantation generally comprises exotic tree species dominated by Acacia confusa. Other species of lower abundance include exotic species (Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia mangium, Araucaria heterophylla, Casuarina equisetifolia, Livistona chinensis and Leucaena leucocephala) and native species (Cinnamomum camphora, Ficus microcarpa, Macaranga tanarius). This LR has a relatively high capacity to accommodate change and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
FLR 6 - Hillside Woodland
Refers to woodland areas largely scattered over hillsides, including at the base of hills and associated patches of woodland. This LR is predominantly composed of native tree species and is generally located some distance from intense human activities (except at the base of hills where it often borders rural development areas), growing naturally with some understory vegetation. Common tree species in this LR include Acacia confusa, Macaranga tanarius, Ficus microcarpa, Dimocarpus longan, Celtis sinensis, Cinnamomum camphora and Ficus hispida. Further details are given in the individual LR descriptions.
Within the Study Area, this LR is largely scattered at the foothill of Cham Shan, Wa Shan, Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan.
6.1	Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works Hillside Woodland	High		Medium	Low		High
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. Several small patches of woodland lie at the eastern base of the hillside surrounding Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works. Trees grow naturally and densely in this area and dominant species include Macaranga tanarius, Celtis sinensis, Cinnamomum camphora, Melia azedarach and Leucaena leucocephala.
This LR is relatively mature and intolerant to change. The sensitivity of this LR is considered to be high.
6.2	Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodland	High		Medium	Low		High
This LR refers to the relatively large and continuous woodlands along the foothills of Cham Shan and Wa Shan to their northern, western and southern sides, bordering shrubland/grassland on the higher ground above and rural villages and agricultural lands in the lowland area below. Due to limited human disturbance, these trees are mature in medium to large sizes. Dominant tree species include both native and exotic ones. Dominant native trees are Celtis sinensis, Cinnamomum camphora, Ficus hispida, Ficus variegata var. chlorocarpa, Rhus succedanea, Sapium discolor, Ficus microcarpa and Macaranga tanarius. Dominant exotic species include Melia azedarach, Dimocarpus longan, Syzygium jambos, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia confusa and Casuarina equisetifolia.
This LR is considered to be relatively mature and of high quality and it has little capacity to tolerate change. The sensitivity of this LR is considered to be high.
6.3	Ma Wat Wai Hillside Woodland	High		Medium	Low		High
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to a small and isolated woodland patch embracing Ma Wat Wai on all sides expect the northeast. A mixture of exotic and native trees as well as many bamboos are present in this area. Dominant trees include native species (Celtis sinensis, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus hispida, Sterculia lanceolata, Rhus succedanea and Sapium discolor) and exotic species (Dimocarpus longan and Melia azedarach).
This is a mature resource and of relatively high quality. It has little capacity to tolerate change. Its sensitivity is considered to be high.
6.4	Hillside Woodland at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan	High		Medium	Low		High
This LR covers part of the woodlands on the foothill of Lung Shan to the northeast of Fanling Highway and the foothill of Wa Mei Shan to the southwest in the vicinity of Wo Hop Shek. This resource includes mature woodland trees growing on hillside slopes, including native species (Celtis sinensis, Macaranga tanarius, Ficus hispida, Ficus microcarpa and Litsea glutinosa) and exotic species (Acacia confusa, Eucalyptus spp., Dimocarpus longan, Melia azedarach and Syzygium jambos).
The quality and landscape value of this LR is relatively high, with little tolerance to change and its sensitivity is considered to be high.
FLR 7 – Lowland Woodland
Refers to woodland growing on low ground (generally <40 mPD), often found near rural village areas of human activities in small, fragmented patches, with differing tree species according to location. Common tree species found in this LR include Dimocarpus longan, Cinnamomum camphora, Macaranga tanarius, and Leucaena leucocephala. Further details are given in the individual LR descriptions.
Within the Study Area, this LR is found in Fu Tei Au, Hung Kiu San Tsuen, Sacred Hill, Ling Hill, Ling Shan Tsuen, Wong Kong Shan, Tai Tau Leng and North District Hospital.
7.2	Lowland Woodland at Fu Tei Au and Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to several patches of woodland in Fu Tei Au area and in the close vicinity of Sheng Shui Water Treatment Works. They are generally surrounded by or bordering rural areas and abandoned agricultural lands and so receive moderate human disturbance leading to the vegetation within the LR being of lower quality. Trees in this resource are not diverse and dominated by Dimocarpus longan, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Celtis sinensis, Macaranga tanarius and Cinnamomum camphora.
This is a landscape resource of medium quality and has a medium tolerance to change, making its sensitivity medium.
7.3	Hung Kiu San Tsuen Lowland Woodland	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR refers to the lowland woodlands in the vicinity of Hung Kiu San Tsuen, east of Man Kam To Road. These woodlands are largely surrounded by adjacent industrial/open storage areas and therefore potentially suffer from disturbance by human activities making this resource of lower quality than it would otherwise be.
These trees are of medium to large sizes, and are dominated by both native and exotic species. The most abundant native species include Celtis sinensis, Ficus microcarpa, Ficus hispida, Bischofia javanica, Cinnamomum camphora, and Macaranga tanarius, while exotic species include Averrhoa carambola, Casuarina equisetifolia, Leucaena leucocephala, Dimocarpus longan and Melia azedarach.
This LR has a medium amenity value, relatively low quality, a medium tolerance to change and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
7.4	Sacred Hill Lowland Woodland	Medium		Medium	Low		High
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR is located to the east of Tin Ping Shan Tsuen, adjacent to the large Tin Ping Shan Tsuen agricultural lands. Common tree species include Celtis sinensis, Ficus microcarpa and Macaranga tanarius.
This LR is relatively intolerant to change and its sensitivity is considered to be high.
7.5	Ling Hill and Ling Shan Tsuen Lowland Woodland	High		Medium	Low		High
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to the woody areas near the intersection of Ma Sik Road and Jockey Club Road. These woodland patches are on the periphery of and associated with Ling Shan Tsuen. There is an old temple (Sam Sheung Temple) located in this village and it is also surrounded by this woodland. Trees in this resource are fairly large and mature including both native and exotic species. They are native (Celtis sinensis, Ficus microcarpa and Macaranga tanarius) and exotic (Acacia confusa, Delonix regia and Dimocarpus longan).
This is a natural resource of high quality and is not able to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is considered to be high.
7.6	Wong Kong Shan Lowland Woodland	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to a small patch of woodland located at Wong Kong Shan to the southeast of Cheung Wah Estate. This woodland patch is largely surrounded by adjacent residential and industrial areas and therefore potentially suffered from disturbance by human activities making this resource of lower quality than it would otherwise be. Common tree species include Acacia confuse, Bauhinia blakeana, Macaranga tanarius This is a landscape resource of medium quality and has a medium tolerance to change, making its sensitivity medium.
7.7	Lowland Woodland near Tai Tau Leng	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR refers to a small patch of woodland located near Tai Tau Ling. This woodland patch is largely surrounded by adjacent industrial/open storage areas and therefore potentially suffered from disturbance by human activities making this resource of lower quality than it would otherwise be. Common tree species include Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia confuse and Cinnamomum camphora. This LR has a medium amenity value and medium tolerance to change. Its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
7.8	Lowland Woodland at North District Hospital	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to the small patch of woodland located at North District Hospital. This woodland patch is largely surrounded by residential area and GIC area. Human disturbance is medium. Main species include Leucaena leucocephala, Macaranga tanarius, Acacia confuse, Aleurites moluccana, Ficus microcarpa. This LR has a medium amenity value and medium tolerance to change. Its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
FLR 8 - Shrubland / Grassland Mosaic
Refers to a mosaic of shrubland and grassland which is usually large in size and uniform in appearance. This LR is typical of the fire-maintained hill-slopes in Hong Kong and common grass species include Miscanthus sinensis, Neyraudia spp. and Panicum spp. Further details are given in the individual LR descriptions.
Within the Study Area, this LR is found largely on hillsides, particularly on Wa Shan, Cham Shan and Lung Shan, as well as some relatively lowland areas to the west of the Study Area.
8.2	Fu Tei Au Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This resource is located north of Fu Tei Au Road surrounding the Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works. It is dominated by grasses such as Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus floridulus and some small trees including Rhus succedanea and Macaranga tanarius are also present in this area.
This LR is of low landscape value and amenity and is relatively tolerant to change. Its sensitivity is low.
8.3	Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan	Medium		Low	Medium		Medium
This is an extensive and continuous resource in the northeast of the Study Area, i.e. the hillsides of Cham Shan and Wa Shan. Similar to most of the other hillsides in Hong Kong, this large area of grassland is also maintained by hill fires and mainly colonized by grasses. Grass and herb species such as Miscanthus sinensis, Neyraudia reynaudiana and Panicum spp. are widespread within the resource. Nevertheless, some patches close to Cheung Po Tau which are undergoing vegetation succession towards shrubland, support higher plant diversity and show more complex floristic structure. Shrubs commonly found in these areas include Melastoma candidum, Rhus succedanea, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa and Sapium discolor.
This LR can re-establish itself fairly easily and is therefore considered to be relatively tolerant to change but is of medium quality and maturity. Its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
8.4	Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Lung Shan	Medium		Low	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR is part of the extensive shrubby grassland on the uplands of Lung Shan. It merges into hillside woodland at the foothills and is sometimes adjacent to the urban development area. Similar to the other hilly shrubland/grassland in Hong Kong, this LR is maintained by periodical hill fires.
This LR can re-establish itself fairly easily and is therefore considered to be relatively tolerant to change. It is of medium quality and maturity and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
FLR 9 - Agricultural Land
Refers to land used for agriculture including crops and orchards as well as ornamental plant nurseries. This LR contains a small number of structures such as small irrigation ponds, green houses, equipment sheds and small/ narrow hard paved areas. It not only contains agricultural vegetation but also some scattered non-agricultural vegetation including some shrubs and trees. It is often an intermediary between areas of development and natural areas.
Within the Study Area, this LR is mainly found in Tin Ping Shan, Ma Shi Po and Sheung Shui Wa Shan.
9.2	Fu Tei Au Agricultural Land	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
Agricultural land in Fu Tei Au area is partially abandoned. Common vegetables such as Brassica parachinensis and Lactuca sativa are grown in the active fields. In those inactive fields, grasses dominated by Miscanthus spp. have colonized the land, with some isolated shrubs and trees growing along the previous field bunds without management. Those trees include Dimocarpus longan, Litchi chinensis and Magnifera indica. The active portion of this LR is of high quality.
This LR provides some green space between the hard surfaces of industrial/open storage areas or rural development areas making it locally reasonably important. Agricultural land is fairly easy to re-establish in the right environment and especially given some of this land is abandoned, it has medium tolerance to change. The LR is considered to have medium sensitivity.
9.3	Agricultural Land between Ng Tung River and Shek Sheung River	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. A patch of active agricultural land is located in the flood area between Ng Tung River and Shek Sheung River, north of Po Wan Road. This agricultural land probably connected with the agricultural land in Tin Ping Shan Tsuen (FLR-9.4) in the past but has now been separated by an open storage area between them (FLR-13.1). The area of this LR is relatively small, but of reasonable quality.
This LR has medium value and being agricultural land has medium ability to tolerate change in the right environment. It is considered to have medium sensitivity.
9.4	Tin Ping Shan Tsuen Agricultural Land	Medium		Medium	High		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. Tin Ping Shan Tsuen agricultural land is located on the north of Tin Ping Shan Tsuen. This is a reasonably sized,un-fragmented area of agricultural land and more than half the fields remain active. In addition to open farmlands, there are also some orchards in which small fruit trees including Musa x paradisiaca, Litchi chinensis and Dimocarpus longan are cultivated.
The LR is mature and established and of high quality, yet since it is agricultural land, in the right environment it could be recreated, meaning it has reasonable capacity to accommodate change. It is considered to have medium sensitivity.
9.5	Agricultural Land at Sheung Shui Wa Shan	Medium		Medium	High		Medium
This LR is located in the lowland area at the foot of Wa Shan, along the eastern bank of Ng Tung River. Much of the agricultural land within this area is abandoned with weeds, climbers, isolated shrubs and banana trees and some other invasive trees (e.g. Leucaena leucocephala) colonizing the land. However some areas are still active and this land is a green resource neighboring village developments.
This LR has medium landscape quality and maturity. Being agricultural land it is relatively tolerant to change in the right environment. It is considered to have medium sensitivity.
9.6	Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Shek Wu San Tsuen	Medium		Medium	Low		Medium
This resource is mainly situated in the east of the Study Area of FLN NDA and includes both active and inactive agricultural lands. A variety of crops are grown in the active fields, including Benincasa hispida, Pisum sativum, Solanum melongena and Lactuca sativa. As a result of human activity of cultivation, vegetation on the bunds of these fields is poorly developed and is dominated by common herbs such as Ageratum conyzoides, Hedyotis diffusa and Kyllinga brevifolia and Lobelia chinensis and few shrubs and trees are present. Some of the inactive fields, due to the lack of management and disturbance for a long time, are beginning to develop naturally into grassland or shrubby grassland with colonisation by herbs, isolated shrubs and small trees.
This LR is mature and established yet the land is highly fragmented and overall the LR is not of high quality. Since it is agricultural land, in the right environment it could be re-established, meaning it has reasonable capacity to accommodate change. I It is considered to have medium sensitivity.
9.7	Agricultural Land South of Sha Tau Kok Road	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This resource is situated in the south east of the Study Area of FLN NDA, south of Sha Tau Kok road and near the base of Lung Shan. It includes both active and inactive agricultural lands near Lung Yeuk Tau, Mat Wat Wai and east of Wing Ning Wai, Wing Ning Tsuen and Tung Kok Wai. A variety of crops are grown in the active fields, including Benincasa hispida, Brassica chinensis and Lactuca sativa. For those inactive fields, due to the lack of management, they are beginning to develop naturally into grassland or shrubby grassland with colonisation by herbs (e.g. Alocasia odora, Miscanthus sinensis, and Bidens alba) and small trees (e.g. Ficus hispida and Macaranga tanarius).
This LR has medium value and, being agricultural land, is reasonably easy to recreate in the right environment, which means it has medium capacity to accommodate change and it is considered to have medium sensitivity.
9.8	Other Agricultural Lands in KLN	Medium		Medium		Medium	Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to several small and fragmented agricultural lands in different locations within the Study Area of DPs, including Hak Ka Wai and Tai Tau Leng. Most of these agricultural lands have been wholly or partly abandoned and grass and shrubs now grow in the fields. For those fields remaining active, common crops cultivated by farmers include Brassica parachinensis and Lactuca sativa. This LR has low to medium value in terms of crop production and is relatively tolerant to change. It is considered to have medium sensitivity.
FLR 10 - Open Space / Recreation Area
Refers to areas that provide recreational use either in the form of playground areas or sports pitches. There is vegetation associated with this LR, as well as landscaped planting.
Within the Study Area, this LR is found at North District Sports Ground and Hong Kong Golf Club.
10.1	North District Sports Ground	Medium		Medium	High		Low
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. North District Sports Ground is a multi-purpose sports ground located between Jockey Club Road and Tin Ping Road. Facilities provided in this sports ground include natural grass football field, running track, covered grandstand, public leisure pool, basketball/volleyball courts and outdoor and indoor tennis courts. Dominant amenity trees planted in this LR include Ficus microcarpa, Bauhinia blakeana and Bauhinia variegata.
This LR has medium landscape value and due to its man-made nature and high percentage of hard landscape, has a high capacity to accommodate change. Apart from the open grass pitch, it has little planting and therefore soft landscape is relatively low value. Overall its sensitivity is considered to be low.
10.2	Hong Kong Golf Club	High		Medium	High		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. Hong Kong Golf Club is located either side of Fan Kam Road. It is a large private golf club with an extensive greens maintained for golfing activities. Besides the golf course, the club has some built structures including the Club House and facilities to accommodate swimming and tennis, as well as restaurants and accommodation. The Halfway House at Hong Kong Golf Club is graded as a Grade II historic building. Trees, dominated by Melaleuca quinquenervia, are planted around the golf course for landscaping purposes. Water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) are cultivated in the golf course ponds. The entire plantation is well maintained and in good condition. This LR is of high quality and amenity value and covers an extensive area of land; however it is an artificial resource and has a high capacity to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
FLR 11 – Urban Development Area
Refers to urbanized areas which are heavily developed with considerable hard paved surfaces and limited landscaped areas. These LRs consist mainly of large clusters of medium to high density buildings with a high degree of related infrastructure and often with some high rise developments, with some associated facilities such as post office, police station, hospital, restaurants, supermarkets etc. The LR also includes work sites where construction is ongoing, or sites being cleared/ formed prior to development of a structure that would form part of an urban area. Vegetation in this LR is mainly landscape planting with scattered amenity shrubs and trees, some small public green spaces and private gardens.
Within the Study Area, this LR broadly covers the large urban development areas in Wo Hop Shek , Sheung Shui and Fanling.
11.2	Sheung Shui Urban Development Area	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR refers to the northeastern part of the Sheung Shui town centre. There are high-rise public (e.g. Tin Ping Estate) and private (e.g. Tsui Lai Garden, On Kwok Villa and Noble Hill) estates, training centres, multi-storey car park and home for the aged located in this area. Gardens and small scale playgrounds can also be found associated with those residential blocks. Amenity trees and shrubs are planted and well maintained to enhance the environment, and the dominant tree species are Melaleuca quinquenervia, Acacia confusa, Bauhinia blakeana, Ficus microcarpa, Bombax ceiba, Cassia siamea, Eucalyptus citriodora and Phoenix roebelenii.
This LR has low landscape value and due to its man-made nature, has a high capacity to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is considered to be low.
11.3	Fanling Urban Development Area	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR mainly covers Luen Wo Hui urban development area in Fanling. Medium and high rise residential buildings (e.g. Fanling Garden, Wing Fok Centre, Wing Fai Centre, Union Plaza, Belair Monte, Grand Regentville), schools (e.g. Fanling Public School, Buddhist Ma Kam Chan Memorial English Secondary School and Fanling Rhenish Church Secondary School), a church (St. Joseph’s Church), cinema, commercial complexes and street markets can be found in this area. Gardens and playgrounds of small scale can also be found associated with the residential blocks. Amenity trees and shrubs are planted along roads but are relatively limited. The dominant tree species are Melaleuca quinquenervia, Acacia confusa, Ficus microcarpa, Cassia siamea and Bauhinia variegata.
This LR has low landscape value and due to its man-made nature, has a high capacity to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is considered to be low.
11.4	Wo Hop Shek Urban Development Area	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to the eastern part of Wo Hop Shek urban development area. There are high-rise public estate (Wah Sum Estate) and private estates (Avon Park and Dawning views) as well as a school (Fanling Government Secondary School) in this LR. Amenity trees and shrubs are planted along roads such as Ficus microcarpa, Cassia siamea and Bauhinia variegata. Both native and exotic species can be found in the open area along Pak Wo Road. These include Acacia Confusa, Macaranga tanarius, Leucaena leucocephala, Ficus microcarpa and some bamboo species This LR has low landscape value and due to its man-made nature, has a high capacity to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is considered to be low.
FLR 12 - Rural Development Area
Refers to traditional villages, modern villages and small scale residential areas dominated by domestic structures (mainly of 2-3 stories) interwoven with roads and paths, There are some Ancestral Halls, shrines and temples, and this LR may also contain some facilities such as small police stations, post offices, and covered water reservoirs and pumping stations and some small, managed, recreational areas (such as football and basketball pitches) and small wasteland areas either wholly or partly covered by weedy or sparse vegetation. This LR has a few small orchard areas associated with it and private gardens, as well as amenity planting among the built structures. This LR usually occurs in fragmented patches with agricultural or natural landscape resources adjacent to it.
Within the Study Area this LR includes Hak Ka Wai, Fu Tei Au, Sheung Shui lowland area, Lung Yeuk Tau, Wo Hap Shek, Kiu Tau and Nam Wa Po, as well as some areas at the base of Wa Shan and Lung Shan.
12.2	Rural Development Area in the Vicinity of Fu Tei Au	Low		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR mainly covers the rural area between Fu Tei Au Road and Ng Tung River. Settlements in this area consist predominantly of simple and traditional houses of a single storey, some of which are fenced off. Trees are present both along the roads winding between houses and in private gardens, including Dimocarpus longan, Macaranga tanarius and Aleurites moluccana.
Man Ming Temple, constructed before 1924, is located within to the south of this LR. It is a Grade 3 Historic Building which is a three-hall building, with two open corridors on the two sides of the central hall, used to access the end hall.
This resource has limited landscape value, but some of its structures have heritage significance and therefore have little ability to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is overall considered to be medium.
12.3	Rural Development Area in the North of FLN NDA	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR covers the rural development areas in the north of the Study Area and it is partially located within the Closed Area. Main structures included in this LR are the Border District Police Headquarters, Sha Ling Livestock Waste Control Centre, a firing range at the uphill of Cheung Po Tau, as well as some scattered village settlements in Sha Ling. A number of individual Chinese Banyan (Ficus microcarpa) are well maintained along the boundary fence of Border District Police Headquarters, while in other areas there are patches of trees along the roads, most of them without management. These trees mainly include Macaranga tanarius, Acacia confusa, Bombax ceiba and Casuarina equisetifolia.
Overall this LR has limited landscape value and high ability to accommodate change. It is considered to have low sensitivity.
12.4	Rural Development Area in Sheung Shui Lowland Area	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This is a lowland resource where a number of villages are concentrated, particularly in the western part which encompasses Wai Loi Tsuen, Man Kok Village, Mun Hau Tsuen, Po Sheung Tsuen, Ha Pak Tsuen, Chung Sum Tsuen, Sheung Pak Tsuen, Tai Yuen Tsuen and Hing Yan Tsuen (collective named as Sheung Shui Heung/Sheung Shui Wai). The eastern part of this LR includes Tin Ping Shan Tsuen. Fung Kai School with its associated football pitch and several basketball pitches and some mature trees are also located at the centre of this LR.
Those villages in the west are well established, consisting of some modern housing of 2-3 storeys and some traditional housing and include one declared monument and two graded historical buildings. Liu Man Shek Tong Ancestral Hall, a declared monument, was built by Liu Man Shek Tong in 1751 at Mun Hau Tsuen. This typical three-hall two-courtyard building is decorated by plaster mouldings, wood carvings and murals of auspicious motifs and pictures. One of the graded historic buildings is Liu Ying Lung Study Hall, situated at Po Sheung Tsuen which is a confirmed Grade 1 Historic Building. It was renovated in 1923 and was once the place where Spring Equinox, births and weddings were celebrated. The other is Old Sheung Shui Police Station, which is a confirmed Grade 2 Historic Building. It was one of thirteen police stations built soon after the British took over the New Territories and later became a police reporting centre and then a Junior Police Call (JPC) Club House after the new Sheung Shui Police Station was opened in 1979. Tin Ping Shan Tsuen in the east is relatively small, mainly consisting of more traditional and simple structured houses of a single storey. Most areas are hard-surfaced and have limited vegetation except those private amenity plantings.
Given the traditional nature of much of this LR and its historical buildings, this LR is relatively intolerant to change and is considered to have medium sensitivity.
12.5	Wa Shan Rural Development Area	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
This LR refers to several rural development areas along the hillsides or at the foothill of Wa Shan. They are largely rural settlements including Sheung Shui Wa Shan village, Siu Hang Tsuen and Siu Hang San Tsuen. Most of these villages are undergoing transformation due to the fact that many houses have been replaced by modern housing blocks of 2-3 storeys and some new housing blocks are being constructed. This LR has limited softscape treatment but does include some trees (e.g. Mangifera indica, Dimocarpus longan and Livistona chinensis) and private amenity plantings (e.g. Duranta erecta).
One temple is located in Siu Hang Tsuen, (Fuk Tak Temple), established some 100 years ago. The temple is for the worship of the Earth God and other gods/deities that give protection to the villagers and so is locally important. Although the temple has a ‘Nil Grade’ historic building value, it is at one end of the Lung Yeung Tau Heritage Trail. Part of San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range is also included in this LR. It is a large piece of grassland for military purpose. Many mature trees grow in the surroundings, including Macaranga tanarius, Celtis sinensis, Leucaena leucocephala and Eucalyptus spp.
This LR is largely a man-made area but some of the historical buildings and the vegetation associated with the firing range are relatively intolerant to change. The overall sensitivity of this LR is medium.
12.6	Lung Yeuk Tau Rural Development Area	Medium		Medium	Medium		Medium
A group of villages aggregate in Lung Yeuk Tau, including Kan Lung Tsuen, San Wai, San Uk Tsuen, Wing Ning Wai, Wing Ning Tsuen, Tung Kok Wai, Ma Wat Wai, Ma Wat Tsuen and Lo Wai. These villages are largely divided into two parts (i.e. northern and southern parts) by Sha Tau Kok Road.
Houses in Kan Lung Tsuen, San Wai and San Uk Tsuen in the north are relatively traditional and simple. The Sisters of the Precious Blood Children’s Village is also located in this area. There are facilities such as a playground and basketball pitch provided in this village.
Wing Ning Wai, Wing Ning Tsuen, Tung Kok Wai, Ma Wat Wai, Ma Wat Tsuen and Lo Wai in the southern part of this LR are either modern villages with housing blocks of 2-3 storeys or villages undergoing transformation. However, some historical elements remain in these villages. These include the Entrance Gate of Wing Ning Wai and Tsung Kyam Church at Shung Him Tong Tsuen, both of which are classified as Grade 3 Historic Buildings, as well as the Entrance Tower of Ma Wat Wai and Entrance Tower and Enclosing Walls of Lo Wai, which are declared monuments. The whole village area is mostly hard-surfaced and has limited softscape treatment but does include some trees (e.g. Dimocarpus longan, Sterculia lanceolata and Ficus microcarpa) and some bamboos.
The Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail passes through this LR taking in the high number of heritage buildings in the LR. Although many village areas in this LR are relatively modern, the historic buildings and declared monument are vulnerable to change since they cannot be easily recreated and overall this LR has medium sensitivity.
12.7	Rural Development Area at Wo Hop Shek and Wong Kong Shan	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR includes Cyber Domaine, Tong Hang, Tong Hang Tung Chuen (at the foothill of Lung Shan), part of the Wo Hop Shek San Tsuen in Wo Hop Shek, Kau Lung Hang San Wai and Yuen Leng. It also includes the Tong Hang Fresh Water Service Reservoir that is located on the hillside of Lung Shan. Trees commonly found in this LR are Melaleuca quinquenervia, Celtis sinensis , Ficus hispida, Leucaena leucocephala, Dimocarpus longan, and Eucalyptus citriodora This LR is dominated by domestic residencies. Its landscape amenity, significance and quality are moderate and it has a high ability to tolerate change, making its overall sensitivity low.
12.8	Rural Development Area at Ma Shi Po	Medium	Low		Medium		Medium
This LR refers to the rural settlements scattered among the agricultural lands in Ma Shi Po. Most of the settlements are old in style and of small and simple structure. Trees associated with these village houses include Celtis sinensis , Ficus hispida, Leucaena leucocephala and Dimocarpus longan etc.
This LR is dominated by domestic residencies. Its landscape amenity, significance and quality are medium and it has limited ability to tolerate change given the age of those old village houses and its relationship with the surrounding agricultural land, making its overall sensitivity medium.
12.9	Wu Nga Lok Yeung and Ling Shan Tsuen Rural Development Area	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR mainly refers to two patches of continuous rural development located at Wu Nga Lok Yeung as well as Ling Shan Tsuen and Good View New Village. Some of the construction works at Wu Nga Lok Yeung are suspended, leaving two rows of 3-storey unfinished village houses on exposed ground. Plants are generally absent from this area. The village houses in Ling Shan Tsuen and Good View New Village are relatively concentrated with large trees frequently found along the winding roads and in private gardens. These trees include Celtis sinensis, Dimocarpus longan, Livistona chinensis and Macaranga tanarius, etc. This LR is dominated by domestic residencies. Its landscape amenity, significance and quality are medium and it has high ability to tolerate change, making its overall sensitivity low.
12.11	Rural Development Area at Kiu Tau and Nam Wa Po	Medium		Medium	High / Medium		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR mainly includes Kiu Tau and Nam Wa Po. 2 to 3 storeys modern village houses are commonly found. There is the oldest school building and a church more than a half century in the village. Most area has hard surface paving. Ornamental trees like Ficus Benjamina, Schefflera heptaphylla and Plumeria acutifolia and some private amenity plants can be easily seen. There is also fruit tree like Carica papaya. This LR is dominated by domestic residencies. Its landscape amenity, significance and quality are moderate and therefore the overall sensitivity of this LR is medium.
12.12	Rural Development Area in Long Valley, Yin Kong and Hak Ka Wai	Medium		High	Low		High
This LR lies between Shek Sheung River and Fanling Highway to the southeast of Long Valley. It covers 4 villages: Yin Kong Village, Hak Ka Wai and Tsung Pak Long and Tai Tau Leng. Hak Ka Wai is a traditional village with around 100 years of history. It consists of two rows of residences, an ancestral hall (the Wong Shek Chung Ancestral Hall), a study hall, an entrance gate, enclosing walls and a watch tower. This village is proposed as a Grade 1 Historic Building but the status is not confirmed as of September 2010. Tsung Pak Long is a traditional village undergoing transformation. It contains ancestral halls, earth shrines, a school and a church in traditional style to its northwest. Most areas within this LR are hard-surfaced and have limited vegetation except those private amenity plantings, in which fruit trees Dimocarpus longan, Carica papaya and Citrus reticulata and landscaping shrub Duranta erecta and Murraya paniculata are commonly found. Tai Tau Leng is a traditional village undergoing transformation. It contains a village hall, a school, a factory, a basketball court and a football field to its northwest. Most areas within this LR are hard-surfaced and have limited vegetation. Green buffer trees are planted to its east and south along Po Shek Wu Road and Fanling Highway. The main species include Bauhinia variegate, Acacia auriculiformis, Leucaena leucocephala. The historic buildings located in this LR, particularly the Hak Ka Wai village, cannot be easily recreated and this LR is relatively intolerant to change. This LR has high sensitivity.
12.13	Rural Development Area to the North of Hong Kong Golf Club	Medium		Low	High		Low
This LR mainly covers one modern village, Golf Park View, consisting of residential 4-5 storey blocks enclosed by walls. Overall this LR is considered to have low sensitivity.
FLR 13 - Industrial / Open Storage
Refers to areas which are heavily adapted for human industrial use, such as factory facilities, waste processing plants and other industrial buildings, often with some open areas for storage, parking or other associated activities. These areas have small roads within them and some concrete drainage channels. There is very little existing vegetation within this LR.
Within the Study Area, this LR is geographically divided into Sheung Shui and Fanling industrial/open storage areas and will be further described individually.
13.1	Sheung Shui Industrial/Open Storage Area	Low		Low	High		Low
The western part of this LR contains Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works and several warehouses and industrial buildings. Planted trees are found along the roads and dominant species include Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia confusa and Leucaena leucocephala.
The rest of this LR is largely used for open storage and car parks as well as several waste processing plants but there is one recognized Tin Hau Temple (No. 41 Hung Kiu San Tsuen), but this has a ‘Nil Grade’ historic building value. Trees within this area are not actively managed and grasses occupy many places between the car parks. Tree species commonly found include Leucaena leucocephala, Bauhinia blakeana, Bauhinia variegata, Macaranga tanarius, Delonix regia, Cassia siamea, Bombax ceiba, Syzygium jambos, Ficus virens, Mangifera indica and Acacia auriculiformis.
This LR has relatively low landscape amenity value and consists mostly of modern man-made structures that can be easily recreated. Its sensitivity is considered to be low.
13.2	Fanling Industrial Area	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR refers to the warehouses and industrial buildings, factories and workshops southwest of Luen Wo Hui in Fanling District. There are individual fenced factories containing some open areas for car parks with small patches of wild grasses or small shrubs growing on exposed ground. Trees grow sparsely along the roads between building blocks and include Celtis sinensis, Hibiscus tiliaceus, Aleurites moluccana and Leucaena leucocephala.
This LR has low amenity value and is capable of accommodating change. It is considered to have low sensitivity.
13.3	Industrial / Open Storage Area in Nam Wa Po	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This is an isolated plot beside Nam Wa Po Tsuen and is now used for open storage. Trees in this LR include Acacia confusa, Leucaena leucocephala. Delonix regia. This LR predominantly consists of man-made structures which have a high capacity to tolerate change and have low landscape value. This LR is considered to have low sensitivity.
FLR 14 - Major Transportation Corridor
Refers to MTRC railway, Fanling Highway, as well as Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau) and all the associated intersections. There is tree planting along the sides of the roads consisting of a variety of indigenous and exotic species such Cassia siamea and Acacia confusa. In addition, there is some planting along the central divider (median) in some sections, including of amenity shrubs such as Allamanda schottii and sometimes palm trees Livistona chinensis. Drainage channels associated with the roads/highway are considered part of this LR as they are an integral function of the roadscape.
14.1	MTRC East Rail	Low		Low	High		Low
The LR includes a short section of MTRC East Railway running between Sheung Shui and Lo Wu Stations. No significant planting is found along the railway lines and trees growing randomly in its vicinity are dominated by Leucaena leucocephala.
This resource is highly utilized by the general public and well linked but it is man-made with low landscape value and a high ability to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is low.
14.2	Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau)	Medium		Low	Medium		Medium
Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau) starts from Sheung Shui Police Station and runs northwest through the south of Luen Wo Hui in the FLN NDA Study Area. There is significant roadside planting, with planted trees dominated by Melaleuca quinquenervia found along the road sides and the central divider. In addition to trees, amenity shrubs such as Ixora chinensis and Schefflera arboricola are also planted to enhance to landscape value of this area.
Despite this being a man-made resource, the landscape value of this LR is increased by the significant roadside planting with many mature roadside trees and overall its sensitivity is considered to be medium.
14.3	Fanling Highway	Medium		Low	Medium		Medium
This LR is a major transportation corridor connecting Fanling, Sheung Shui, Kwu Tung and other adjacent areas. It includes a short section of Fanling Highway with a reasonable amount of roadside planting with some mature tree. Species include Melaleuca quinquenervia, Bombax ceiba, Ficus microcarpa, Casuarina equisetifolia, Acacia confusa and Bauhinia blakeana.
This is a man-made resource, and due to the roadside planting is less able to accommodate change and its overall sensitivity is considered to be medium.
14.4	MTRC near Fanling Highway	Low		Low	High		Low
This LR is small section of the MTRC East Rail line running parallel to Fanling Highway. It has no planting associated with it, only noise barriers at its edges. This is a man-made resource which has a high ability to accommodate change. Its overall sensitivity is considered to be low.
FLR 15 - Columbarium Refers to Columbarium in Wo Hop Shek. Built form is scattered throughout the woodland area consisting of a variety of indigenous (Celtis sinensis, Macaranga tanarius, Ficus hispida, Ficus microcarpa and Litsea glutinosa) and exotic species (Acacia confusa, Eucalyptus spp., Dimocarpus longan, Melia azedarach and Syzygium jambos).
15.1	Wo Hop Shek Columbarium	Medium		Medium	Low		Medium
This LR sits outside the works area and will not be affected. This LR refers to the columbarium in Wo Hop Shek. It sits inside the natural woodland area. Trees include indigenous (Celtis sinensis, Macaranga tanarius, Ficus hispida, Ficus microcarpa and Litsea glutinosa) and exotic species (Acacia confusa, Eucalyptus spp., Dimocarpus longan, Melia azedarach and Syzygium jambos).
The quality and landscape value of this LR is relatively high, with little tolerance to change and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.

Table 12D.3.2 Landscape Character Areas and their Sensitivity – DP 8, 9, 10 and 12

Id. No.	Landscape Character Area (LCA)	Quality & Maturity (High /Medium /Low)	Rarity (High /Medium /Low)	Ability to Accommodate Change (High /Medium /Low)	Sensitivity (High /Medium /Low)
FLCA-1	Natural Hillside Landscape	High	High	Low	High
Refers to large hillside areas which are dominated by shrubland, grassland and some woodland in places such as the ravines.
Within the Study Area for DPs this LCA encompasses Cham Shan and Wa Shan to the north reaching 164 mPD and the foothills of Lung Shan to the south. Other areas of this LCA found within the study area are at Wong Kong Shan, Stable Hill (Wu Tip Shan), and Ling Hill. They are relatively at lower height and close to human activities.
This LCA is predominantly natural and of high quality. It is a significant LCA within the Study Area and has a low tolerance to change. Therefore its sensitivity is considered to be high.
FLCA-2	Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
Refers to rural village areas and village areas on the fringes of urban developments, including relic landscapes of former villages. This LCA is dominated by small or medium sized villages with modern and traditional houses and some temples, interspersed with small agricultural plots and comprises a broad mixture of other land uses including water ponds, schools, sports grounds, and playgrounds, some open storage areas and car parks. This LCA also has some patches of woodland as well as vegetation associated with the villages and park areas.
Within the Study Area for DPs this LCA is generally found at the foothills of the Cham Shan and Wa Shan to the east and some lowland areas to the southwest, such as Sheung Shui Wai, Tai Tau Leng, Tsung Pak Long, North District Hospital and Hong Kong Golf Club.
This LCA is considered to have medium tolerance to change and be of moderate amenity value. Its sensitivity is therefore medium.
FLCA-3	Urban Development Landscape	Low	Low	HIgh	Low
Refers to urban areas with significant numbers of high-rise developments and extensive transport infrastructure. It also contains car parks and open areas associated with urban development such as playgrounds and small parks and sitting out areas. This LCA has limited natural vegetation but does include some man-made landscaping.
Within the Study Area for FLN NDA this LCA is found only towards the south-western boundary including Sheung Shui and Fanling town centres, with buildings becoming more modern. It includes the high-rise developments such as Woodland Crest, Grand Regentvillie, Regentville, and Avon Park and some high rise estates such as Tin Ping Estate.
This is an important residential landscape and has high tolerance to change. The sensitivity of this LCA is considered to be low.
FLCA-4	Industrial Landscape	Low	Low	High	Low
Refers to areas comprising a broad mix of land uses including factories, utility facilities, workshops, open storage and some channelized water courses. It is normally located on low lying ground or at the base of hills and may include small and fragmented areas of residential houses and their associated agricultural land. There is little significant vegetation among this built environment, but small patches of vegetation do exist, particularly along the channelized river.
Within the Study Area for DPs this LCA is mainly comprised of vacant land and open storage such as that found along Sha Tau Kok Road near Ng Tung River, Sheung Shui Industrial and Fanling Industrial Area. Some open storage uses are also found near some villages, such as Lung Yeuk Tau and Kiu Tau.
This LCA contains man-made facilities that are able to accommodate change, particularly if they have been abandoned. Except for the significant planting along the Ng Tung River, most areas in this LCA are exposed with the vegetation largely removed, resulting in a low landscape amenity. Therefore, the sensitivity of this LCA is considered to be low.
FLCA-5	Lowland Agricultural Landscape	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
Refers to large areas dominated by agricultural land (active and abandoned) with scattered small villages and low-rise buildings and may also include some fishponds and irrigation ponds. This LCA is mostly found among lowlands and floodplain areas.
Within the Study Area for DPs the key area of this LCA is found at Tin Ping Shan Valley and Ma Shi Po. Tin Ping Shan Valley is located in the valley between Ng Tung River and Wa Shan. Around the promontory of Wa Shan past Sacred Hill are abandoned agricultural fields and drained concrete fishponds. The remaining area is active agriculture and contains Wu Nga Lok Yeung village. Ma Shi Po agricultural land is in the lowland area located to the east of Wu Nga Lok Yeung. It is primarily agricultural land with a mixed use of villages and light industry amongst manmade woodland and nursery. The fragmented greenery pattern extends from the north to the south side of the Ng Tung River.
The value and significance of the LCA is high with the much of the agricultural land having been established for a number of years in this the FLN NDA Study Area. This LCA can accommodate limited change and its overall sensitivity is considered to be high.
FLCA-6	Major Transportation Corridor Landscape	Low	Low	High	Low
Refers to major highway and railway areas, with their scattered associated buildings.
Within the Study Area for DPs, Fanling Highway, Sha Tau Kok Road and MTRC East Railway are major transport routes stretching in a variety of directions and located at the west and south boundaries of the Study Area, connecting the FLN NDA with other adjacent areas.
The LCA is considered to be highly tolerant to change and its sensitivity is low.
FLCA-7	Major Water Course Corridor Landscape	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
Refers to modified water courses channelized with concrete or grasscrete and also includes some walkways along the water course and the vegetation associated with the water course, both within the channel and along the banks as well as in the ridge of the banks.
Within the Study Area of DPs this LCA includes sections of Ng Tung River, Shek Sheung River and Ma Wat River.
The landscape amenity and significance of this LCA are medium. Due to its largely man-made state, it is reasonably tolerant to change and its sensitivity is considered to be medium.

12D.3.1 Summary of Baseline Conditions

The LRs within the Study Area which have been identified for their higher sensitivity are generally natural streams, woodland, marsh/ wetland, some water ponds, although other resources may also have high sensitivity due to certain characteristics.

LRs associated with natural water bodies are often considered higher value resources. With the exception of a natural stream at Tin Ping Shan Agricultural Land (FLR-2.1) which much of it passes through development areas and is degraded by pollution while some sections of the stream are fortified by concrete banks and a natural steam at Cham Shan (FLR-2.2), which has banks partially paved in places and low water quality (commonly polluted with rubbish). The natural streams in FLN (in Lung Shan (FLR-2.3), Siu Hang San Tsuen (FLR-2.4) and Kau Lung Hang, Yuen Leng and Nam Wa Po (FLR-2.5)) all have high sensitivity, largely due to their intactness and low ability to accommodate change. Pond areas which are no longer used or actively managed in the area consist of ponds at Fu Tei Au (FLR-3.3), within the eastern rural area (FLR-3.4), at Wai Loi Tsuen (FLR-3.5) and Nam Wa Po (FLR-3.6); all of these ponds are noted as having medium sensitivity. In addition, the mitigation wetland along Ng Tung River (FLR-4.2), is rated as highly sensitive largely due to their rarity within a developed landscape setting, natural characteristics and sensitivity to change.

Trees are considered as a precious LR therefore, all areas of hillside woodland within the Study Area are rated as having high sensitivity. These include Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works Hillside Woodland (FLR-6.1), Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodland (FLR-6.2), Ma Wat Wai Hillside Woodland (FLR-6.3) and Hillside Woodland at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan (FLR-6.4). Unlike woodland within KTN, the lowland woodland around FLN is generally of low to medium quality as a result of human disturbance. The lowland woodland at Sacred Hill (FLR-7.4) and at Ling Hill/Ling Shan Tsuen (FLR-7.5) are considered to have high sensitivity as they are of better quality, more pristine and therefore less able to accommodate change. There are no OVTs in this area but one area of plantation (at Ha Pak Tsuen (FLR-5.2) is considered to have high sensitivity as a result of its maturity, number of mature tree specimens within a traditional village setting, giving it a low ability to accommodate change.

FLR8 Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic surrounds the study area such around Fu Tei Au (FLR-8.2), Cham Shan and Wa Shan (FLR-8.3). It is also commonly associated with hillsides and local prominences such as Lung Shan (FLR 8.4). These LR are generally located on undeveloped areas of natural topography however they are managed using periodic fires, therefore their overall sensitivity is considered to be medium. Areas of shrubland/grassland mosaic located close to Sheung Shui STW at Fu Tei Au (FLR8.2)is established on a man-made landscape feature (artificial watercourse channel) therefore the sensitivity is considered to be low.

All agricultural LRs within the study boundary for the schedule 2 DPs have been attributed with medium sensitivity as a result of generally medium quality and that it is relatively easy to re-create in the right environment and not overly rare in the New Territories.

With regards to LCAs, Natural Hillside Landscape in FLN NDA (FLCA-1) is considered highly sensitive, largely due to its high landscape quality and inability to accommodate change. Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape (FLCA-2) and Major Water Course Corridor Landscape (FLCA-7) have medium sensitivity, largely due to their moderate amenity value and medium tolerance to change. The Lowland Agricultural Landscape in this area (FLCA-5) is predominantly of medium value and considered reasonably easy to recreate given the right environment, and therefore also has medium sensitivity. The Major Transport Corridor Landscape in this area (FLCA-6) includes the southern Fanling Highway and part of the MTRC East Rail Line. Unlike in the KTN area, there is limited planting within this LCA within the Study Area so it has a high ability to accommodate change and therefore this LCA has low sensitivity. Urban Development Landscape (FLCA-3) and Industrial Landscape (FLCA-4) also have low sensitivity due to their low landscape quality through human development and high ability to accommodate change.

12D.4 Details of Site Formation Impacts – FLN Schedule 2 DPs 8, 9, 10and 12

The proposed DPs relate to the provision of new road infrastructure together with improvements to existing road and reprovision of a temporary wholesale market. A summary of the likely site formation impact for each DP is provided below:

12D.4.1 DP 8 - Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement

A flyover along the southbound direction of Po Shek Wu Road will be constructed from south of Po Wan Road to westbound Fanling Highway. This flyover is responsible for diverting the traffic from southbound Po Shek Wu Road to westbound Fanling Highway from Po Shek Wu Interchange. This will involve the construction of a new northbound lane at the west side of Po Shek Wu Road (section between Po Wan Road and San Wan Road). In this case the proposed slip road will be elevated above the existing Po Shek Wu Road, at a level of +20mPD (i.e. road infrastructure has been stacked to reduce the overall footprint and accommodated the improvement works within the existing constraints). The existing northbound and southbound lanes would then be realigned to the west side. This provides the space for the construction of the foundation and pile cap of the piers of the bridge at the east side of Po Shek Wu Road. The existing slope on the eastern side of Po Shek Wu Road would be maintained.

The majority of the road falling within the improvement works will be contained within a new fully enclosed system of 6m high noise barriers.

12D.4.2 DP 9 and 10 - Fanling Bypass, East and West Sections

The proposed Fanling Bypass Western Section serves as a district distributer road with 2 lanes with an average carriageway width of 7.3m. The alignment will require site clearance, tree felling, demolition and cut and fill works throughout the works area to form the road. This section of the Fanling Bypass will be constructed at-grade along its entire route. A short section of 3m high noise barriers will be constructed at the western end of the scheme close to Man Kam To Road. On the north side of the road in the same location a 150m section of 5m high vertical barrier will be constructed. In addition 2no pedestrian footbridges are proposed.

The proposed Fanling Bypass Eastern Section acts as a primary distributor road with dual lanes with a carriageway width of 14.6m. The dual carriageway includes a central reservation. Initially the road is constructed at-grade before it crosses Ng Tung River, after this crossing the road returns to at-grade level and progressively drops to form an underpass beneath Sha Tau Kok Road. Beyond the underpass, as the road travels further south it becomes elevated and remains on viaduct along the remaining alignment until it joins with the existing Fanling Highway. The construction works for this section are far more extensive and will include site clearance, tree felling, demolition and cut and fill works throughout the works area to form the road. Major excavation works will be required to form the underpass at Sha Tau Kok Road. In addition, the realigned Ma Wat River channel will be required to the west of Wing Ning Tsuen. Numerous pedestrian footbridges are proposed along the route at key crossing points. Noise barriers are proposed along the majority of the route.

12D.4.3 DP12 Reprovision of wholesale market in FLN NDA.

As a result of the alignment of the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section where passes through the existing wholesale market site off On Kui Street, Reprovision of the site is proposed in the same location although it will be re-orientated to run parallel to the road alignment and partially occupy the adjacent land plot occupied by the water supplies department. Breaking out of existing surfaces, vegetation clearance, demolition of temporary structures and formation of new surfaces would be required.

12D.5 Sources of Impacts

During the construction of the various components of DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12, potential landscape and visual impacts will generally result from the following:

· Site clearance including demolition of structures and tree removal/transplantation would have a negative landscape and visual impact due the appearance of construction activities and loss of vegetation cover. Demolition of unsightly or temporary structures may generate positive impacts.

· Site formation works including cutting and filling e.g. of farmland, streams would generate negative impacts as a result of the loss of these features of high landscape value.

· Stockpiling of construction and demolition materials, including existing topsoil, storage of construction equipment and mechanical plant would generate negative visual impact as a result of these operations intruding into existing views.

· Construction of at-grade and above ground facilities including, bridges, viaducts, interchanges, roads and noise barriers are likely to generate negative visual impacts as a result of these operations intruding into existing views and the scale of the construction footprint.

· Temporary structures within the Project Site including site offices, boundary fencing/hoarding and parking areas would generate negative visual impact due to generally low aesthetical value of these types of structures.

· Re-alignment of roads would generate negative visual impacts due to the visibility of construction operations and the likely large scale construction footprint.

· Re-alignment of streams and watercourses would generate negative visual impacts due to the loss of visual amenity provided by these resources

· Alteration to natural terrain would generate negative landscape and visual impact as a result of the appearance of major earth works, construction movements, loss of visual amenity and likely large scale construction footprint.

During the operation phase, potential impacts will result from the following:

· Operation of new roads including intersections and viaducts would generate negative visual impacts due to the potential obstruction of existing views visibility of new structures, and traffic movements.

· Provisions of noise mitigation structures are likely to generate some negative visual impacts due to the appearance of new built form and potential to obstruct existing views. This may be balanced where the barriers may provide screening from visual detractors.

· Residual impacts from loss of trees and vegetation during the construction phase would generate negative landscape and visual impacts in the short term until compensation planting has established and replaced these resources.

12D.6 Landscape Impact Assessment

The landscape impact assessment has been carried out taking into consideration the baseline LRs and LCAs described in Section 12D.3 and potential impacts described in Sections 12D.4 and 12D.5.

Further details of the potential landscape impacts are provided for each DP below. The magnitude of change for LRs and LCAs is presented in Tables 12D.6.1 and 12D.6.2 below.

Landscape impacts are presented on Figures 12.52.23 and 12.52.41 to 50.

Table 12D.6.1 - Magnitude of Change on LRs (DP8, 9, 10, 12)

Note - For LRs where no impact is recorded, these are not shown.

LR Code	Name	DPs and Site No. (Land Use Type*) Impacting LR	Area of LR within study area and within DP boundary (ha) or length (m or Km)		Physical extent of the impact (Small/ Medium/ Large)		Compatibility with Surrounding Landscape (Good /Fair /Poor)						Duration of Impact (Temporary [Short/Medium term], Permanent)					Reversibility of Change (Reversible/ Irreversible)								Magnitude of Change (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible)
							Construction		Operation				Construction			Operation		Construction			Operation					Construction					Operation
KLR 1	Channelized Water Course
1.1	Ng Tung River (Fanling District)	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 40.68ha/ 3.60km DP Boundary: 9.82ha/ 2.6km		Medium		Poor		Fair				Temporary Medium			Permanent		Reversible			Irreversible					Small					Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation. The majority of DP9 sits within this LR as it runs parallel to the river channel. The upper embankment of the river comprises a road access track which will generally not be affected. The road is lined with mature and semi-mature trees, a small proportion of which will require felling in localized areas where junction points are formed with bridges crossing the river (outside the scope of the schedule 2 DPs). Where the road formation becomes closer to the channel as it approach the proposed junction with DP10, earthworks to bring levels up may impact on intervening vegetation between the road alignment and the channel. The river banks and bed of the river would not be affected, only the surface beyond the banks. DP10 will have a larger impact on this resource as the road alignment is wider and runs closer to the channel edge therefore a larger proportion of the tree planting lining the access road will require felling. The alignment then crosses the river channel. Bridge construction works are likely to require large scale excavations to form abutments beyond the river banks. As a result of the partial loss of tree cover along the river alignment, the compatibility of the work during construction is considered to be poor. Taking into account the heavily engineered nature of the channelized river course and the realigned channel profile the compatibility during operation would be fair. The majority of this resource will remain intact throughout the construction and operation stage therefore the overall magnitude of change is considered to be small.
1.2	Shek Sheung River	DP8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement	Study Area: 4.30ha/633m DP Boundary: 0.18ha/63m		Small		Good		Good				Temporary Short		Permanent			Reversible				Irreversible				Negligible						Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation. A very small part of DP 8 will affect an area of existing hardstanding, due to the very small scale and previous developed nature, the compatibility is considered to be good in construction and operation. The DP will have a very limited impact on this LR, therefore the magnitude of change is considered to be negligible in construction and operation.
1.4	Ma Wat River	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section DP 12: Reprovision of Wholesale Market	Study Area: 25.84ha / 5.5km DP Boundary 12.30ha/ 4.4km		Large		Poor		Fair				Temporary Medium			Permanent		Reversible			Irreversible					Large					Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation DP10 runs parallel to this LR and crosses the channel at several locations. Trees located on the upper bank of the river will require felling at the crossing points and where the road runs close to the top of the channel. As the alignment runs to the west of Wing Ning Tsuen, a major realignment of the channel is proposed, pushing it further to the east. This will require significant excavation works and filling of the old channel. As a result of the localised loss of vegetation and channel realignment works, the compatibility in construction is considered to be poor. Taking into account the heavily engineered nature of the channelized river course and the realigned channel profile the compatibility during operation would be fair. DP12 will be realigned to fit the new road and channel alignment, the principal influence on the LR comes from DP10. The majority of this resource will remain intact throughout the construction and operation stage however the associated earthworks and bypass construction are large scheme, therefore the magnitude of change during construction is considered to be large. As the subsequent development will replace the river channel with an identical channel albeit on a different alignment and with the reduce scale of the construction area, the magnitude of change is operation would be intermediate. The main difference being the alignment of the new bypass.
KLR 2	Water Course
2.4	Natural Streams at Siu Hang San Tsuen	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 1.13km DP Boundary: 160m		Medium		Poor		Fair				Temporary Short Term				Permanent	Reversible						Reversible			Small						Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation The downstream area of the stream at Siu Hang San Tsuen falls within the footprint of the DP and will be affected by the site designated for the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section. Fanling Bypass will be an elevated viaduct over the section close to the stream and should avoid directly impacting it and causing any loss of the stream. It is expected that the intensity of sunlight that can reach the stream area will be reduce by the viaduct and as a result the growing conditions of riparian plants and the landscape quality provided by such riparian plants, will be reduced. In construction, the works will occur over the stream and therefore the compatibility would be poor. In operation the works would not directly impact the stream although would cross the LR on viaduct, in this case the compatibility would be fair. Overall, the magnitude of change during construction and operation would be small due to the lack of direct impact on the stream.
FLR 4	Marsh / Wetland
4.2	Mitigation Wetland	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section	Study Area: 5.53ha DP Boundary: 1.59ha		Medium		Poor		Poor				Permanent			Permanent		Irreversible			Irreversible					Intermediate					Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and OperationThere are five main mitigation wetland areas located along Ng Tung River within the DP boundary. The proposed DP will cut across two of the wetlands on the northern side of Ng Tung River; road formation will require partial filling and permanent loss off the resource where affected. As these works will involve the partial loss of this resource, the compatibility is considered to be poor in construction and operation. The majority of the impact would be as a result of the Schedule 3 development, in the case the magnitude of change is considered to be intermediate in construction and operation.
FLR 6	Hillside Woodland
6.2	Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodlands	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 62.25ha DP Boundary 1.52ha		Small		Poor		Poor				Permanent			Permanent		Irreversible			Irreversible					Intermediate					Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation Part of this LR along the northern bank of Ng Tung River will be adversely affected by the Fanling Bypass construction work. Trees are likely to be removed during site clearance and formation and the land use will be permanently changed. Considering a small area will be affected, the magnitude of impact is considered to be small.
6.4	Hillside Woodlands at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 23.28ha DP Boundary: 1.50ha		Small		Poor		Poor				Permanent			Permanent		Irreversible			Irreversible					Intermediate					Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation Construction impacts will relate to tree felling and cut and fill works within this LR at the west of the DP. As this relates to relatively large area and will require permanent loss to the LR, the compatibility in construction and operation is considered to be poor. Due to permanent loss but small scale of works, the magnitude of change is considered to be Intermediate during construction and operation.
FLR 7	Lowland Woodland
7.3	Hung Kiu San Tsuen Lowland Woodland	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section	Study Area: 5.2ha DP Boundary: 0.46		Small		Poor		Poor				Permanent			Permanent		Irreversible			Irreversible					Small					Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation A small area of this LR will fall within the boundary of DP, construction impacts will require tree clearance, cut and fill works to allow roundabout construction, provision of pedestrian footbridge and road formation. Due to permanent loss of resource the compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be poor. Only a very small area of this LR falls within the DP. Woodland here will be cleared prior to site formation. Since the area affected is so small, less that 9% of the LR area and taking into account the poor compatibility, the overall magnitude of change is considered to be small during construction and operation.
7.7	Lowland Woodland near Tai Tau Leng	DP8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement	Study Area: 1.25ha DP Boundary: 0.57		Small		Poor		Poor				Temporary Short			Permanent		Reversible			Irreversible					Intermediate					Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation A small area of this LR will fall within the boundary of DP, construction impacts will require tree clearance, cut and fill works to allow road construction. Due to permanent loss of resource the compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be poor. As around 45% of the LR will be permanently changed, the magnitude of change is considered to be intermediate in construction and operation.
FLR 8	Shrubland / Grassland Mosaic
8.3	Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 85.81ha DP Boundary 0.65ha		Small		Poor		Poor				Temporary Short			Permanent		Reversible			Irreversible					Small					Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation A very small area of this LR will be used for the construction of the proposed DP and natural vegetation will be lost during construction, cut and fill works will also be required. The works will require permanent change to the LR therefore compatibility in construction and operation is considered to be poor. As a result of the small scale of the area which forms part of a more extensive area of the LR, the magnitude of change is considered to be small in construction and operation.
FLR 9	Agricultural Land
9.2	Fu Tei Au Agricultural Land	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section	Study Area: 3.61ha DP Boundary: 0.06		Small		Poor		Poor				Temporary Short Term				Permanent	Reversible			Irreversible					Small					Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation A small area of farmland falls within the boundary of the proposed DP, vegetation clearance and filling works will be required. As the work would involve loss of the LR the compatibility is considered to be poor during construction and operation. Due to the very small scale of the intrusion of these works into the LR, the magnitude of change is considered to be small during construction and negligible in operation. The majority of the impact would be as a result of the Schedule 3 works.
9.5	Agricultural Land at Sheung Shui Wa Shan	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section	Study Area: 8.47ha DP Boundary: 2.28		Medium		Poor		Poor				Temporary Medium				Permanent	Reversible						Irreversible		Intermediate					Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation Under half of this LR falls within the wider RODP boundary but this small area is affected by roads The agricultural land will be lost during site clearance and site formation here, and by operation this area of LR will be converted to incompatible land uses, therefore compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be poor. Given the relatively small area however and absence of many trees on agricultural land, overall the magnitude of change is considered intermediate during construction and operation..
9.6	Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Lung Yeuk Tau	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 36.76ha DP Boundary: 5.45		Medium		Poor		Poor				Temporary Medium			Permanent		Reversible			Irreversible					Intermediate							Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation A large area of this LR will be affected by road construction works which will involve vegetation clearance, cut and fill works. As the work would involve loss of the LR the compatibility is considered to be poor during construction and operation. Due to the scale of the works and permanent loss of the LR, the magnitude of change is considered to be intermediate in construction and operation as the works only affect a relatively small area of the LR. The wider Schedule 3 works would have a more significant impact on this LR.
9.7	Agricultural Land South of Sha Tau Kok Road	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 8.95ha DP Boundary: 1.52		Large		Poor		Poor				Temporary Medium			Permanent		Irreversible	Irreversible							Intermediate							Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation An area of this LR will be affected by road construction works which will involve vegetation clearance, cut and fill works. As the work would involve loss of the LR the compatibility is considered to be poor during construction and operation. Due to the scale of the works and permanent loss of the LR, the magnitude of change is considered to be intermediate in construction and operation.
FLR 11	Urban Development Area
11.2	Sheung Shui Urban Development Area	DP8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement	Study Area: 110ha DP Boundary: 1.2ha		Small		Good			Good			Temporary Short Term	Permanent				Reversible					Irreversible			Small							Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation A small area of this LR falls within the works area for DP however the majority of the LR relates to the existing roadscape. Whilst the construction works would cause some disruption to the LR, in operation this area would remain as a road. In this case the compatibility is considered to be good in both construction and operation. As a result of the very small area affected and overall good compatibly of the DP with the LR, the magnitude of change is considered to be Small during construction and negligible in operation.
11.3	Fanling Urban Development Area	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 57.21ha DP Boundary: 0.27ha		Small		Good				Good		Temporary Short Term		Permanent			Reversible						Irreversible	Small								Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation A small area of this LR falls within the works area for DP 10 close to Ma Sik Road. Whilst the construction works would cause some disruption to the LR, in operation this area would remain as a road. In this case the compatibility is considered to be good in both construction and operation. As a result of the very small area affected and overall good compatibly of the DP with the LR, the magnitude of change is considered to be Small during construction and negligible in operation.
FLR 12	Rural Development Area
12.5	Wa Shan Rural Development Area	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 22.65ha DP Boundary: 1.59ha		Medium		Poor		Fair				Temporary Short			Permanent		Reversible	Irreversible								Small						Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation The proposed DPs will pass through the edge of this resource north of Ng Tung River. Construction impacts will result in the demolition of structures, clearance of vegetation and trees. Cut and fill works will be required to achieve the correct road levels throughout the area. The roads will required partial loss of this resource therefore the compatibility is considered to be poor during construction and operation. As a result of the overall scale of the impacted area, it is considered that the magnitude of change will be small during construction. As these are previously developed areas, it is considered the magnitude of change would drop to negligible during the operation stage.
12.6	Lung Yeuk Tau Rural Development Area	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 54.07ha DP Boundary: 1.26		Small		Fair		Fair				Temporary Short			Permanent		Reversible		Irreversible						Small					Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation The proposed DP will pass through this resource east of Ma Wat River. Construction impacts will result in the demolition of structures and buildings together with clearance of vegetation and trees. Cut and fill works will be required to achieve the correct road levels for construction of a viaduct through the area. The roads will require a partial loss of this resource therefore the compatibility is considered to be poor during construction and operation. As a result of the overall scale of the impacted area, it is considered that the magnitude of change will be small during construction. As these are previously developed areas, it is considered the magnitude of change would drop to negligible during the operation stage.
12.7	Rural Development Area at Wo Hop Shek and Wong Kong Shan	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	1.40		Small		Fair		Fair				Temporary Short Term			Permanent		Reversible		Irreversible							Small				Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation The proposed DP will pass through the northern extent of the resource as it meets the Fanling Highway. Construction impacts will result in the demolition of structures and buildings together with clearance of vegetation and trees. Cut and fill works will be required to achieve the correct road levels and reconfiguration of existing road junction. The DP will require a partial loss of this resource within a previously developed area therefore the compatibility is considered to be fair in construction and operation. As a result of the overall scale of the impacted area, it is considered that the magnitude of change will be small during construction. As these are previously developed areas, it is considered the magnitude of change would drop to negligible during the operation stage.
12.8	Rural Development Area at Ma Shi Po	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Study Area: 12.72 DP Boundary: 0.13		Small		Fair			Fair			Temporary Short Term			Permanent		Reversible					Irreversible			Small				Negligible
		Construction impacts will result in the demolition of structures and buildings together with clearance of vegetation and trees. Cut and fill works will be required to achieve the correct road levels and reconfiguration of existing road junction. The DP will require a partial loss of this resource within a previously developed area therefore the compatibility is considered to be fair in construction and operation. As a result of the overall scale of the impacted area, it is considered that the magnitude of change will be small during construction. As these are previously developed areas, it is considered the magnitude of change would drop to negligible during the operation stage.
12.12	Rural Development Area in Long Valley, Yin Kong and Hak Ka Wai	DP 8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement	Study Area 10.6ha DP Boundary: 0.78		Small		Fair			Fair			Temporary Short				Permanent	Reversible			Irreversible					Small					Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation The works area for the proposed DP will require some vegetation clearance to allow road construction within this LR. The DP will require only a very small loss of this resource within a previously developed area therefore the compatibility is considered to be fair during construction and operation. As a result of the overall scale of the impacted area, it is considered that the magnitude of change will be small during construction. As these are previously developed areas, it is considered the magnitude of change would drop to negligible during the operation stage.
12.13 (KLR-12.5)	Rural Development Area to the North of Hong Kong Golf Club	DP 8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement	Study area: 5.3ha DP boundary: 0.06ha		Small		Fair					Fair	Temporary Short				Permanent	Reversible		Irreversible						Small		Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation The works area for the proposed DP will require some vegetation clearance to allow road construction within this LR. The DP will require a partial loss of this resource within a previously developed area therefore the compatibility is considered to be fair during construction and operation. As a result of the overall scale of the impacted area, it is considered that the magnitude of change will be small during construction. As these are previously developed areas, it is considered the magnitude of change would drop to negligible during the operation stage.
FLR 13	Industrial / Open Storage
13.1	Sheung Shui Industrial/ Open Storage Area	DP8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvements DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section	Study Area: 70.03ha DP Boundary 4.02		Medium		Fair		Fair				Temporary Short Term			Permanent		Reversible			Irreversible					Intermediate			Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation DPs8 and 9 will both pass through this resource. Construction impacts will result in the demolition of structures and buildings, clearance of vegetation and trees. Cut and fill works will be required to achieve the correct road levels throughout the area. Given the extensive clearance, formation of hard surfaces and temporary structures existing in these areas, it is considered the compatibility of the roads during construction and operation would be fair. As a result of the overall large scale of the impacted area, it is considered that the magnitude of change will be intermediate during construction and small operation, as a result of the fair compatibility.
13.2	Fanling Industrial Area	DP 9: Fanling Bypass Western Section DP 12: Reprovision of Wholesale Market	Study Area: 16.02 3.17		Small		Good		Good				Temporary Short Term			Permanent		Reversible						Irreversible		Small			Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation DPs9 and 12 will both affect this resource. Construction impacts will result in the demolition of structures and buildings, clearance of vegetation and trees. Cut and fill works will be required to achieve the correct road levels throughout the area. Given the extensive clearance, formation of hard surfaces and temporary structures existing in these areas, it is considered the compatibility of the roads and wholesale market site works during construction and operation would be fair. As a result of the overall small scale of the impacted area, it is considered that the magnitude of change will be small during construction and operation.
FLR 14	MTRC East Rail
14.1	MTRC East Rail	DP 8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement	Study Area: 7.00ha / 1.3km DP Boundary: 0.46ha 150m		Small		Good					Good	Temporary Short				Permanent	Reversible						Irreversible		Negligible			Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation DP construction works pass over the rail line and will have no direct impact on the integrity of the LR. As a result the compatibility is considered to be good during construction and operation. As there will be no direct impacts, the magnitude of change is considered to be negligible in construction and operation
14.2	Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau)	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section DP 12: Reprovision of Wholesale Market	Study Area: 5.4ha/1.6km DP Boundary: 1.41ha/ 20m		Small		Fair					Good	Temporary Short				Permanent	Reversible						Irreversible		Small			Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation A very small section of Sha Tau Kok Road lies within the DP boundary and is designated to remain as road so while the magnitude of change may be small during construction due to modifications to the existing road, during operation the LR will remain the same and the magnitude of change will be negligible.
14.3	Fanling Highway	DP8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section	Site Area: 20.24ha/ 3.84km DP Boundary: 14.14ha/ 2km		Large		Fair		Good				Temporary Medium		Permanent			Reversible			Irreversible						Intermediate		Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation The majority of the proposed DP sits within this LR area. Construction impacts will result in the breaking out of surfaces, formation of junctions where the DP meets the highway and construction road barriers, noise barriers etc. Vegetation clearance of trees which fall within the corridor on verges will be required in localized areas. The works would involve disruption within the existing road corridor albeit in localized areas therefore the compatibility of the works is considered to be fair during construction. In operation the works will fall within the existing highway infrastructure corridor therefore are considered to have a good compatibility. Taking into account the likely large scale of the construction footprint, it is considered that the magnitude of change during construction would be intermediate. As the works will form part of the existing highway corridor in the future, the magnitude of change during operation is considered to be negligible.
14.4	MTRC near Fanling Highway	DP 10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section		Study Area: 9.80ha / 3.8km DP Boundary: 0.27ha 170m		Small	Good	Good					Temporary Short Term			Permanent		Reversible		Irreversible						Negligible				Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation DP construction works pass over the rail line and will have no direct impact on the integrity of the LR. As a result the compatibility is considered to be good during construction and operation. As there will be no direct impacts, the magnitude of change is considered to be negligible in construction and operation

Table 12D.6.2 Magnitude of Change on LCAs (DP 8, 9, 10 and 12)

Note - For LCAs where no impact is recorded, these are not shown.

LCA Code	Name	Site No. (Land Use Type*) Impacting LCA	Area of LCA within study area and within DP boundary (ha) or length (m or Km)	Physical extent of the impact (Small/ Medium/ Large)	Compatibility with Surrounding Landscape (Good /Fair /Poor)		Duration of Impact (Temporary [Short/Medium term], Permanent)		Reversibility of Change (Reversible/ Irreversible)		Magnitude of Change (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible)
					Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation
FLCA-1	Natural Hillside Landscape	The LCA is affected by sites: DP10:Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road)	Study Area: 285.67ha DP Boundary 1.39ha	Small	Fair	Fair	Temporary Medium Term	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Small	Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation Road construction works within this LCA will require the demolition of buildings, structures, clearance of vegetation (including trees), breaking out hard surfaces, soil stripping and extensive cut and fill works. In operation these areas will be replaced with a series of road systems including pedestrian crossing points, footpaths, drainage structures, noise barriers (various types). These works will remove a relatively small proportion of this character area therefore the compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be fair. As a result of the scale and extent of the works throughout the study area, the magnitude of change is considered to be small in construction and negligible in operation.
FLCA-2	Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape	The LCA is affected by sites: DP 8:Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement (Major Improvement) DP9:Fanling Bypass Western Section (New Road) DP10:Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road)	Study Area: 454.08ha DP Boundary: 25.56ha	Medium	Fair	Fair	Temporary Medium Term	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Intermediate	Intermediate
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation Road construction works relating to these DPs will affect this LCA, works will require the demolition of buildings, structures, clearance of vegetation (including trees), breaking out hard surfaces, soil stripping and extensive cut and fill works. In operation these areas will be replaced with a series of road systems including pedestrian crossing points, footpaths, drainage structures, noise barriers (various types). These works will remove a relatively large proportion of this character area therefore the compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be poor. As a result of the medium scale and extent of the works throughout the study area, the magnitude of change is considered to be intermediate in operation.
FLCA-3	Urban Development Landscape	This LCA is affected by site: DP 8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement (Major Improvement) DP10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road)	Study Area: 106.85ha DP Boundary: 1.77	Small	Fair	Fair	Temporary Medium Team	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Small	Negligible
		Road construction works within this LCA will require the minor road reconfiguration works. These works will remove a relatively small proportion of this character area therefore the compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be fair. As a result of the scale and extent of the works throughout the study area, the magnitude of change is considered to be small in construction and negligible in operation.
FLCA-4	Industrial Landscape	The LCA is affected by sites: DP 8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement (Major Improvement) DP9: Fanling Bypass Western Section (New Road) DP10: Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road) DP12: Reprovision of wholesale market in FLN NDA.	Study Area: 89.05ha DP Boundary: 12.85ha	Small	Fair	Fair	Temporary Medium Term	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Small	Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation Road construction works throughout this resource will require the demolition of buildings, structures, clearance of vegetation (including trees), breaking out hard surfaces, soil stripping and extensive cut and fill works. In operation these areas will be replaced with a series of road systems including pedestrian crossing points, footpaths, drainage structures, noise barriers (various types). These works will affect a significant proportion of this character area which is highly changeable and degraded through existing land use activities therefore the compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be fair. As a result of the small scale and extent of the works throughout the study area together with fair compatibility, the magnitude of change is considered to be small in construction and operation.
FLCA-5	Lowland Agricultural Landscape	The LCA is affected by sites: DP 10:Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road)	Study Area: 167.98ha DP Boundary: 5.29	Small	Poor	Poor	Temporary Medium Term	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Small	Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation Road construction works throughout this resource will require the stripping of soils, clearance of vegetation (including pockets of trees), filling of irrigation ditches and breaking out hard surfaces. Cut and fill works will also be required to form the correct road levels. In operation this area will be replaced with a series of road systems including pedestrian crossing points, footpaths, drainage structures, noise barriers (various types). These works will result in a permanent loss of this character area therefore the compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be poor. As a result of the relatively small area affected, the magnitude of change during construction and operation is considered to be small
FLCA-6	Major Transportation Corridor Landscape	The LCA is affected by sites: DP 8: Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement (Major Improvement) DP10:Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road)	Study Area: 41.04 / 10.54km DP Boundary: 18.37/2.21km	Medium	Good	Good	Temporary Short Term	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Small	Negligible
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation The majority of the works will involve the reconfiguration isolated parts of the road to allow connection to the proposed DP, drainage provision and highway structures (road barriers, noise barriers etc.) therefore the overall compatibility of the work is considered to be fair during construction. In operation the works will fall within the existing highway infrastructure corridor therefore are considered to have a good compatibility. Taking into account the likely large scale of the construction footprint, it is considered that the magnitude of change during construction would be small. As the works will form part of the existing highway corridor in the future, the magnitude of change during operation is considered to be negligible.
FLCA-7	Major Water Course Corridor Landscape	The LCA is affected by sites: DP9: Fanling Bypass Western Section (New Road) DP10:Fanling Bypass Eastern Section (New Road) DP12: Reprovision of wholesale market in FLN NDA.	Study Area: 66.52 / 9.1km DP Boundary: 22.12/7.00km	Medium	Fair	Fair	Temporary Short Term	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Intermediate	Small
		Description of Key Impacts during Construction and Operation proposed DPs will be constructed at the top of the riverbank fronting the river channel, several bridges crossing point and a major alignment change will impact the channel. Vegetation clearance together with soil stripping and excavation works will also be required. The river banks has already been heavily altered through channelization and alignment modifications, therefore no valuable natural features will be lost or affected. In this case the compatibility of the scheme is considered to be fair both in construction and operation. Due to the relatively large scale of the area affected the magnitude of change is considered to be Intermediate during construction and small in operation.

12D.7 Summary of Key Landscape Impacts

A summary of the key landscape impacts identified in Tables 12D.6.1 and 12D.6.2 for each DP is provided below.

DP8 Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvements

The principal impacts as a result of the improvement works will occur during the construction stage. The following LRs/LCAs are affected:

FLR-1.2 Shek Sheung River

FLR-7.7 Lowland Woodland near Tai Tau Leng

FLR-11.2 Sheung Shui Urban Development Area

FLR-12.12 Rural Development Area in Long Valley, Yin Kong and Hak Ka Wai

FLR- 12.13 Rural Development Area to the North of Hong Kong Golf Club

FLR-13.1 Sheung Shui Industrial/Open Storage Area

FLR-14.1 MTRC East Rail

FLR-14.3 Fanling HighwayFLCA-2 Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape

FLCA-3 Urban Development Landscape

FLCA-4 Industrial Landscape

FLCA-6 Major Transportation Corridor Landscape

It is predicted that most impacts will be generated in relation to FLR 12.12 where construction works will encroach onto this resource requiring clearance of vegetation to form the road alignment. Generally the compatibility of these works is considered to be fair in construction and fair in operation.

DP9 Fanling Bypass Western Section

The principal impacts as a result of the bypass construction works will occur during the construction stage and operational stage. The following LRs/LCAs are affected:

FLR-1.1 Ng Tung River (Fanling District)

FLR-4.2 Mitigation Wetland

FLR-6.2 Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodlands

FLR-7.3 Hung Kiu San Tsuen Lowland Woodland

FLR-8.3 Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan

FLR-9.2 Fu Tei Au Agricultural Land

FLR-9.5 Agricultural Land at Sheung Shui Wa Shan

FLR-9.6 Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Lung Yeuk Tau

FLR-12.5 Wa Shan Rural Development Area

FLR-13.1 Sheung Shui Industrial/Open Storage Area

FLR-13.2 Fanling Industrial Area

FLCA-2 Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape

FLCA-4 Industrial Landscape

FLCA-7 Major Watercourse Corridor Landscape

It is predicted that most impacts will be generated in relation to FLR 4.2, 6.2, 7.3, 9.5 where construction works will encroach onto these resources requiring clearance of vegetation, mature trees, loss of agricultural land, cut and fill works to form the road alignment. Generally the compatibility of these works is considered to be poor in construction and operation.

DP10 Fanling Bypass Eastern Section

The principal impacts as a result of the bypass construction works will occur during the construction and operational stage. The following LRs/LCAs are affected:

FLR-1.1 Ng Tung River (Fanling District)

FLR-1.4 Ma Wat River

FLR-2.4 Natural Streams at Siu Hang San Tsuen

FLR-6.2 Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodlands

FLR-6.4 Hillside Woodlands at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan

FLR-8.3 Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan

FLR-9.6 Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Lung Yeuk Tau

FLR-9.7 Agricultural Land South of Sha Tau Kok Road

FLR-11.3 Fanling Urban Development Area

FLR-12.5 Wa Shan Rural Development Area

FLR-12.6 Lung Yeuk Tau Rural Development Area

FLR-12.7 Rural Development Area at Wo Hop Shek and Wong Kong Shan

FLR-12.8 Rural Development Area at Ma Shi Po

FLR-14.2 Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau)

FLR-14.3 Fanling Highway

FLR-14.4 MTRC near Fanling Highway

FLCA 1 Natural Hillside Landscape

FLCA-2 Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape

FLCA-3 Urban Development Landscape

FLCA-4 Industrial Landscape

FLCA-5 Lowland Agricultural Landscape

FLCA-6 Major Transportation Corridor Landscape

FLCA-7 Major Water Course Corridor Landscape

It is predicted that most impacts will be generated in relation to FLR 6.2, 6.4, 8.3, 9.6, 9.7 where construction works will encroach onto these resources requiring clearance of vegetation, mature trees, cut & fills works, loss of agricultural land to form the road alignment. Generally the compatibility of these works is considered to be poor in construction and operation.

DP 12: Reprovision of Wholesale Market

The principal impacts as a result of the wholesale market reprovision works will occur during the construction stage. The following LRs/LCAs are affected:

FLR-1.4 Ma Wat River

FLR-13.2 Fanling Industrial Area

FLR-14.2 Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau)

FLCA-4 Industrial Landscape

FLCA-7 Major Water Course Corridor Landscape

It is predicted that most impacts related to the DP construction will be limited due to the good compatibility with the receiving landscape.

12D.8 Significance of Landscape Impacts

The potential significance of landscape impacts during the construction and operational phases, before mitigation, is provided in Tables 12D.8.1 and 12D.8.2 below. The assessment follows the methodology proposed in Section 12.18 and the matrix provided in Table 12.18.1.

Landscape impacts are presented on Figures 12.52.23 and 12.52.41 to 50.

Table 12D.8.1 Significance of landscape impacts on LRs (DP 8, 9, 10 and 12)

LR Code	Name	LR Sensitivity (High/ Medium/ Low)	Magnitude of Impact (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible			Impact Significance BEFORE Mitigation (Substantial/ Moderate/ Slight/ Insignificant)
			Construction	Operation		Construction	Operation
FLR 1	Channelized Water Course
1.1	Ng Tung River (Fanling District)	Medium	Small	Small		Slight	Slight
1.2	Shek Sheung River	Medium	Negligible	Negligible		Insignificant	Insignificant
1.4	Ma Wat River	Medium	Large	Intermediate		Substantial	Moderate
FLR 2	Water Course
2.4	Natural Streams at Siu Hang San Tsuen	High	Small	Small		Moderate	Moderate
FLR 4	Marsh / Wetland
4.2	Mitigation Wetland	High	Intermediate	Intermediate		Moderate	Moderate
FLR 6	Hillside Woodland
6.2	Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodland	High	Intermediate	Intermediate		Moderate	Moderate
6.4	Hillside Woodland at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan	High	Intermediate	Intermediate		Moderate	Moderate
FLR 7	Lowland Woodland
7.3	Hung Kiu San Tsuen Lowland Woodland	Medium	Small	Small		Moderate	Moderate
7.7	Lowland Woodland near Tai Tau Leng	Medium	Intermediate	Intermediate		Moderate	Moderate
FLR 8	Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic
8.3	Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan	Medium	Small	Small		Slight	Slight
FLR 9	Agricultural Land
9.2	Fu Tei Au Agricultural Land	Medium	Small	Negligible		Slight	Insignificant
9.5	Agricultural Land at Sheung Shui Wa Shan	Medium	Intermediate	Intermediate		Moderate	Moderate
9.6	Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Lung Yeuk Tau	Medium	Intermediate	Intermediate		Moderate	Slight
9.7	Agricultural Land in South of Sha Tau Kok Road	Medium	Intermediate	Intermediate		Moderate	Moderate
FLR 11	Urban Development Area
11.2	Sheung Shui Urban Area	Low	Small		Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
11.3	Fanling Urban Area	Low	Small		Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
FLR 12	Rural Development Area
12.5	Wa Shan Rural Development Area	Medium	Small		Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
12.6	Lung Yeuk Tau Rural Development Area	Medium	Small		Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
12.7	Rural Development Area at Wo Hop Shek and Lung Shan	Low	Small		Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
12.8	Rural Development Area at Ma Shi Po	Medium	Small		Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
12.12	Rural Development Area in Long Valley, Yin Kong and Hak Ka Wai	High	Small		Negligible	Moderate	Insignificant
12.13	Rural Development Area to the North of Hong Kong Golf Club	Low	Small		Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
FLR 13	Industrial / Open Storage
13.1	Sheung Shui Industrial/ Open Storage Area	Low	Intermediate		Small	Slight	Slight
13.2	Fanling Industrial Area	Low	Small		Small	Slight	Slight
FLR 14	Major Transportation Corridor
14.1	MTRC East Rail	Low	Negligible		Negligible	Insignificant	Insignificant
14.2	Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau)	Medium	Small		Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
14.3	Fanling Highway	Medium	Intermediate		Negligible	Moderate	Insignificant
14.4	MTRC near Fanling Highway	Low	Negligible		Negligible	Insignificant	Insignificant

In summary for LRs, substantial adverse impacts have been predicted in the construction stage prior to mitigation in relation to FLR-1.4 Ma Wat Channel due the large scale works involved with the realignment of the river channel to accommodate the alignment of the new Fanling Bypass. These impacts would reduce to moderate in operation as the works generally return the channel back to the original condition albeit on a different alignment.

Moderate adverse impacts are predicted at FLR4.2 Mitigation Wetland due to the required filling works to form the Fanling Bypass. Additionally, FLR6.2 Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodland, FLR 6.4 Hillside Woodland at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan, FLR7.3 Hung Kiu San Tsuen Lowland Woodland, FLR7.7 Lowland Woodland near Tai Tau Leng, FLR 9.5 Agricultural Land at Sheung Shui Wa Shan and FLR9.6 Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Lung Yeuk Tau and FLR9.7 Agricultural Land South of Sha Tau Kok Road will also experience moderate adverse impacts during construction and operation, prior to mitigation, as a result of tree felling and filling of agricultural land which will lead to a direct loss of these landscape resources within the road construction works.

FLR2.4 Natural Stream at Siu Hang San Tsuen will be affected by Fanling Bypass Eastern Section; moderate adverse impacts are predicted due to the high sensitivity of this natural feature.

In construction moderate adverse impacts will occur in relation to FLR 12.12 Rural Development Area in Long Valley, Yin Kong and Hak Ka Wai and FLR 14.3 Fanling Highway, this moderate adverse impact will drop to insignificant mainly due to the compatibility of the LRs with the previously developed landscape and limited extent of the impact area.

Slight adverse impacts would be experience by FLR 1.1 Ng Tung River (Fanling District), FLR8.3 Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan, FLR9.2 Fu Tei Au Agricultural Land, FLR12.5 Wa Shan Rural Development Area, FLR12.6 Lung Yeuk Tau Rural Development Area, FLR 12.7 Rural Development Area at Wo Hop Shek and Wong Kong Shan, FLR12.8 Rural Development Area at Ma Shi Po, FLR12.13 Rural Development Area to the North of Hong Kong Golf Club, FLR13.1 Sheung Shui Industrial/Open Storage Area, FLR13.2 Fanling Industrial Area, and FLR 14.2 Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau). In the case of FLR 9.2, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, 12.13 and 14.2, the impact significance would drop to insignificant during operation as a result of the limited extent of the area impacts and compatibility of the proposed road works with these LRs.

The remaining LRs with respect to industrial/ open storage and major infrastructure corridors such as the MTRC East Rail will all experience a slight or insignificant impact at the construction and operational stage due to their sensitivity rating and overall good compatibility with the road developments.

Table 12D.8.2 Significance of Impacts on LCAs (DP8, 9, 10 and 12)

LCA Code	Name	LCA Sensitivity (High/ Medium/ Low)	Magnitude of Impact (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible		Impact Significance BEFORE Mitigation (Substantial/ Moderate/ Slight/ Insignificant)
			Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation
FLCA1	Natural Hillside Landscape	High	Small	Negligible	Moderate	Insignificant
FLCA2	Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape	Medium	Intermediate	Intermediate	Moderate	Moderate
FLCA3	Urban Development Landscape	Low	Small	Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
FLCA4	Industrial Landscape	Low	Small	Small	Slight	Slight
FLCA5	Lowland Agricultural Landscape	Medium	Small	Small	Slight	Slight
FLCA6	Major Transportation Corridor Landscape	Low	Small	Negligible	Slight	Insignificant
FLCA7	Major Water Course Corridor Landscape	Medium	Intermediate	Small	Moderate	Slight

In summary for LCAs, moderate adverse impacts are predicted in relation to FLCA 2 Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape and FLCA 7 Major Water Course Corridor Landscape in the construction stage prior to mitigation, as these LCAs will be exposed to the majority of the road improvements, bypass and associated development works.

It is predicted that FLCA 1 will experience moderate adverse impacts in the construction stage as a small area will fall within the bypass construction works area. In operation this will drop to insignificant as a result of the limited extent of the intrusion into this zone.

Slight adverse impacts were identified in the construction stage, prior to mitigation, in the assessment in relation to FLCA 5 Lowland Agricultural Landscape; this is as a result of the small scape loss of the medium sensitivity agricultural land as a result of the DPs.

Slight adverse impacts are predicted in relation to FLCA 3 Urban Development Landscape and FLCA 6 Major Transportation Corridor as a result of the construction works associated with Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvements and a small section of the Fanling Bypass works at Sha Tau Kok Road. In both cases the impact would drop to insignificant during the operational stage as the road works would be compatible with the urban / infrastructure characters.

Slight impacts are predicted in relation to FLCA 4 Industrial Landscape as is considered to have a low sensitivity rating and good compatibility with the proposed works. In this case the works are unlikely to have a beneficial impact as identified within the Schedule 3 study as the road have a neutral influence within the industrial areas.

12D.9 Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures

The proposed mitigation measures for the Project are summarised in Table 12D.9.1 below. The same table also lists the agents responsible for the capital funding, the implementation and the maintenance of the suggested measures. These agents will be agreed before the start of construction.

Table 12D.9.1 Summary of proposed mitigation measures

Mitigation Measure Code	Summary Description	Capital Funding Agency ^([1])	Implementation Agency	Post-Construction Maintenance Agency ^([2])
MM1	Minimum Topographical Change	Government	Contractors of the Government	n/a
MM2	Detailed Design - Visual	Government	Contractors of the Government	HyD
MM4	Tree Protection & Preservation	Government	Contractors of the Government	n/a
MM5	Tree Transplantation	Government	Contractors of the Government	HyD/ LCSD
MM6	Slope Landscaping	Government	Contractors of the Government	HyD/ LCSD
MM7	Compensatory Planting	Government	Contractors of the Government	HyD/ LCSD
MM8	Woodland Compensatory Planting	Government	Contractors of the Government	AFCD ^([3])
MM9	Vertical Greening	Government	Contractors of the Government	HyD/ LCSD
MM11	Screen Planting	Government	Contractors of the Government	HyD/ LCSD
MM12	Road Greening	Government	Contractors of the Government	HyD/ LCSD
MM13	Marsh/Wetland Compensation	Government	Contractors of the Government	CEDD/ LCSD/ AFCD
MM14.3	Watercourse Impact Mitigation – Enhancement Planting on Embankment	Government/Private Section	Contractors of the Government/ Private Sector	DSD/LCSD/ AFCD
MM14.4	Watercourse Impact Mitigation – Avoid affecting Watercourses	Government	Contractors of the Government	DSD
MM16	Screen Hoarding	Government	Contractors of the Government	n/a
MM17	Light Control	Government/ Private Sector	Contractors of the Government	n/a

Minimising Topographical Change (MM1)

To minimise landscape and visual impacts, the vertical and horizontal alignment of the at-grade road construction works should be optimised to reduce topographical/ landform changes, as well as reduce land take and interference with natural terrain. Where there is a need to significantly cut into the existing landform, retaining walls should be considered as well as cut slopes, to minimize landform changes and land resumption, whilst also considering visual amenity. Earthworks and engineered slopes should be designed to visually interesting landform, compatible with the surrounding landscape and to mimic the natural contouring and terrain e.g. introduction and continuation of natural features such as spurs and ridges where appropriate to support landscape and visual assimilation with the surrounding terrain.

This measure is recommended throughout the road construction in relation to the channelised water courses (Ng Tung River and Ma Wat River) where the Fanling Bypass will have numerous interfaces and crossing point; care needs to be taken in terms of future alterations to avoid damaging this resource further.

Minimising topographical change has also been recommended in relation to marshland, hillside woodland, shrubland/ grassland mosaic, agricultural land and within the rural development areas. In this case the road works will interfere with natural terrain and minimising the extent of this interference will assist in reducing the overall impact.

Detailed Design (Visual) (MM2)

The construction and operational footprint of the road infrastructure components should be kept to a practical minimum. The form, textures, finishes and colours of the proposed road structures such as viaducts, footbridges and noise barriers should aim to be compatible with the existing surroundings. The engineering design should be refined to reduce visual bulkiness and incorporate aesthetically pleasing surface treatments to promote visual amenity. For example, textured finishes for concrete surfaces to assist in breaking up uniform surface treatments on parapet structures should be considered. In addition light earthy tone colours such as shades of green, shades of grey, shades of brown and off-white should also be considered to reduce the visibility of the development components.

Noise barriers should be kept to a practical minimum and be of such a design as to integrate as well as possible into the landscape setting, where appropriate transparent materials should be incorporated to help reduce visual obstruction.

Tree Protection & Preservation (MM4)

Exiting trees to be retained within the Project Site should be carefully protected during construction. Detailed Tree Protection Specification shall be provided in the Contract Specification. Under this specification, the Contractor shall be required to submit, for approval, a detailed working method statement for the protection of trees prior to undertaking any works adjacent to all retained trees, including trees in contractor’s works areas. (Tree protection measures will be detailed at Tree Removal Application stage).

Tree Transplantation (MM5)

Trees unavoidably affected by the Project works should be transplanted where practical. Trees should be transplanted straight to their final receptor site and not held in a temporary nursery as far as possible. A detailed Tree Transplanting Specification shall be provided in the Contract Specification, where applicable. Sufficient time for necessary tree root and crown preparation periods shall be allowed in the project programme. A detailed transplanting proposal will be submitted to relevant government departments for approval in accordance with ETWBTC 2/2004 and 3/2006 HyD HQ/GN/13 Interim Guidelines for Tree Transplanting Works under Highways Department's Vegetation Maintenance Ambit. The final locations of transplanted trees should be agreed prior to commencement of the work.

Slope Landscaping (MM6)

Site formation has been reduced as far as possible to avoid substantial slope cutting (also see MM1).

Hydroseeding of modified slopes should be done as soon as grading works are completed to prevent erosion and subsequent loss of landscape resources and characters. Woodland tree seedlings and/ or shrubs should be planted where the slope gradient and site conditions allow. In addition, landscape planting should be provided for the retaining structures associated with modified slopes, where conditions allow. All slope landscaping works should comply with GEO Publication No. 1/2011-Technical Guidelines on Landscape Treatment for Slopes.

Slope landscaping has been recommended in relation to hillside and lowland woodland areas together with shrubland/grassland mosaic resources as slope cutting works may be required.

Compensatory Planting (MM7)

Compensatory tree planting for felled trees shall be provided to the satisfaction of relevant Government departments. Required numbers and locations of compensatory trees shall be determined and agreed separately with Government during the Tree Felling Application process under ETWBTC 3/2006. Compensatory planting is proposed at the potential open areas such as open spaces, amenity areas, open areas of the streetscapes, as well as the open areas within development lots. The provision of space for compensatory planting takes into account both schedule 2 and 3 designated projects.

The location of compensatory planting for DP Package D also includes the roadside areas, street tree planting, central medians (within the centre of the Fanling Highway) and any soft landscape areas affected by the works area.

For specific woodland compensatory planting, see MM8.

Woodland Compensatory Planting (MM8)

Specific Woodland compensatory planting is proposed for any areas of woodland that are unavoidably affected. The location and design of the woodland compensatory planting will principally be within habitats of lower value such as upland grassland. These have been considered both within the NDAs.

The proposed locations are mostly on the foothills of Tai Shek Mo and on Fung Kong Shan in KTN NDA with a small area in the northern FLN NDA.

The total area allocated for compensatory woodland planting is more than 16 ha. This provision allows in part for the fact that it will take some time for the compensatory planting to achieve the landscape and ecological function and value of the area to be lost. In addition, it allows for the fact that not all of the areas identified for planting will prove to be plantable, by virtue of topography and ground conditions and, especially, because though the areas identified are largely grassland it is inevitable that these areas will already support some patches of trees and shrubs which would be inappropriate for further planting.

The intention of the compensatory woodland will be to recreate areas of quality woodland, not necessarily to compensate for loss of trees on a like for like basis. Native tree species are suggested for planting, including Ailanthus fordii, Bischofia javanica, Castanopsis fissa, Celtis sinensis, Cinnamomum burmannii, Cinnamomum camphora, Xanthoxlyum avicennae, Liquidambar formosana, Sapium discolor, Schefflera heptaphylla and Ilex rotunda. In addition some understory vegetation may be planted including shrubs such as Atalantia buxifolia, Diospyros vaccinioides, Gardenia jasminoides, Ixora chinensis, Ligustrum sinense, Litsea rotundifolia, Melastoma malabathricum, Melastoma dodecandrum, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Rhaphiolepis indica, and Rhododendron simsii.

Vertical Greening (MM9)

Where space and appropriate planting conditions allow (i.e. where suitable depth of planting medium is possible, maintenance access available and enough light penetration to ground level), climbing plants should be considered to grow up vertical surfaces such as viaduct piers or noise barriers. The planting once established will assist in breaking up the appearance of uniform engineered structures and surfaces.

The proposed Fanling Bypass comprises numerous vertical structures including pedestrian footbridges, viaduct piers and noise barriers which can receive vertical greening treatment as described above.

The noise barriers structures proposed in relation to the Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement can also receive vertical where space permits.

Screen Planting (MM11)

Tall screen/buffer trees and shrubs should be planted to screen proposed structures such as roads and buildings. This measure may additionally form part of the compensatory planting and will improve compatibility with the surrounding environment and create a pleasant pedestrian environment.

Road Greening (MM12)

For viaducts, soft landscaping should be provided to soften the hard, straight edges (for climbers used to cover the vertical, hard surfaces of the piers – see MM9 Vertical Greening) and shade tolerant plants should be planted, where light is insufficient, to improve aesthetic value of areas under viaducts. Both at grade planting and use of elevated planters should be considered for the soft landscaping of viaducts, taking into account the preference to minimise the overall viaduct bulk and integrate architectural forms and textural finishes which improve aesthetics.

At grade roads planting should be considered along central dividers and on road islands e.g. in the middle of roundabouts. (Roadside planting i.e. at the road edge and not in the central divider or road island, is considered part of MM11 Screen Planting). HQ/GN/15 - Guidelines for Greening Works along Highways should be referred to for greening of highways specifically and Development Bureau TCW No. 2/2013 – Greening on Footbridges and Flyovers for footbridges and flyovers.

MM12 is used throughout the Fanling Bypass works where space to include planted central reservations and verges has been maximised.

Marsh/Wetland Compensation (MM13)

Works in relation to the Ng Tung River and Ma Wat River should match the existing and include enhancement planting to upgrade the channels as appropriate, including consideration of wetland planting along embankments where appropriate. The provision of space for marsh/wetland compensation takes into account both schedule 2 and 3 designated projects.

This measure has been recommended in relation to FLR 4.2 Mitigation Wetland where this LR will be filled in relation to the Fanling Bypass works.

Direct loss of marsh and wetland areas caused by the DPs will be mitigated by compensatory habitat and management in the proposed Long Valley Nature Park (LVNP) where there will be some addition of wetland areas.

Watercourse Impact Mitigation (MM14)

For channelized watercourses if these are modified, they should match the existing and include enhancement planting to upgrade the channels as appropriate, including consideration of wetland planting along embankments where appropriate.

Enhancement Planting on Embankment MM14.3

For channelised watercourses, if these are modified, the Drainage Services Department Practice Note No.1/2005 – Guidelines on Environmental Considerations for River Channel Design, should be considered and appropriate mitigation measures included ensuring the new watercourses match the existing as far as possible. Measures can include enhancement planting to upgrade the channels as appropriate, including consideration of wetland planting along embankments where appropriate; as well as consideration of the best materials for the channel lining (e.g. gabion). All measures must also ensure any necessary maintenance work can be carried out and that the channel meets all its requirements for water flow.

The proposed alignment of the Fanling Bypass works will interface and cross the channels of Ng Tung River and Ma Wat River. In addition the alignment of Ma Wat River will changed to the west of Wing Ning Tsuen requiring a new channel to be excavated and the previous channels filled in, to allow for the new bypass alignment. As stated above, the replacement channel works should match the existing and where possible include enhancement planting. Both rivers presently have a grasscrete/ soft bank treatments to the riverbank which should be continued and replaced where required.

Avoid affecting Watercourses (MM14.4)

For the stream at Siu Hang San Tsuen, part of the lower stream would be located underneath the viaduct for the proposed Fanling Bypass Eastern Section. In order to avoid impacts to the stream, the detailed final design of the viaduct should follow the recommendations of ETWB TCW No. 5/2005 as well as Building Department (BD) Practice Note for Authorized Persons and Registered Structural Engineers 295: Protection of natural streams/rivers from adverse impacts arising from construction works. To the south of the viaduct where the stream flows through the area will be protected by a 10m buffer in which natural vegetation will be retained and enhanced and human activities will be limited in order to avoid direct impacts to the stream bed and to minimise potential indirect impacts to the stream and riparian corridor.

Screen Hoarding (MM16)

Screen hoarding shall be erected along areas of the construction works site boundary where the works site borders with public accessible routes and/or is close to visually sensitive receivers (VSRs), to screen undesirable views of the works site. It is proposed that the screening be compatible with the surrounding environment and where possible, non-reflective, recessive colours be used.

Light Control (MM17)

Construction day and night time lighting should be controlled to minimize glare impact to adjacent VSRs during the construction stage. Street and night time lighting shall also be controlled to minimize glare impact to adjacent VSRs during the operation phase. This is considered a general measure for good practice.

Other good practise measures.

For areas unavoidably disturbed by the Project on a short term basis e.g. works areas, the general principle to try and restore these to their former state to suit future land use, should be adhered to.

With regard to topsoil, where identified, it should be stripped, treated appropriately, and where suitable and practical stored for re-use in the construction of the soft landscape works such as roadside amenity strips, and open space sites. It is assumed that the topmost 100mm of soil surface will be topsoil material. This good site practice and will also minimize off-site disposal.

For all planting, this should be installed as soon as the areas become available, to achieve early establishment.

12D.10 Significance of Residual Landscape Impacts upon mitigation

The proposed landscape and visual mitigation measures, as described in Section 12D.9, have been applied to the various impacts and used to identify potential residual impacts.

The potential significance of residual landscape impacts during the construction and operational phases, before and after mitigation at day 1 and year 10, are provided in Tables 12D.10.1 and 12D.10.2. The tables assume that the appropriate mitigation measures have been applied and that the full effect of the soft landscape mitigation measures would be fully realised and established after 10 years.

Landscape mitigation measures are presented on Figures 12.52.70 to 75.

Typical sections are presented on Figure 12.52.81 to 86.

Table 12D.10.1 Significance of landscape impacts on LRs (DP 8, 9, 10 and 12)

LR Code	Name	Impact Significance BEFORE Mitigation (Substantial/ Moderate/ Slight/ Insignificant)			Recommended Mitigation Measures		Residual Impact Significance UPON Mitigation (Substantial/ Moderate/ Slight/ Insignificant)
		Construction		Operation	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation (Day 1)	Operation (Year 10)
FLR 1	Channelized Water Course
1.1	Ng Tung River (Fanling District)	Slight		Slight	1, 4, 5, 14.3	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
1.2	Shek Sheung River	Insignificant		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 14.3	1, 4, 7	Insignificant	Insignificant	Insignificant
1.4	Ma Wat River	Substantial		Moderate	1, 4, 14.3,	1, 4, 7	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FLR 2	Water Course
2.4	Natural Streams at Siu Hang San Tsuen	Moderate		Moderate	1, 4, 5 14.4	1, 4,7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
FLR 4	Marsh / Wetland
4.2	Mitigation Wetland	Moderate		Moderate	1, 13	1, 13	Slight	Slight	Insignificant
FLR 6	Hillside Woodland
6.2	Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodland	Moderate		Moderate	1, 4, 5, 6, 8	1, 4, 6, 8	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
6.4	Hillside Woodland at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan	Moderate		Moderate	1, 4, 5, 6, 8	1, 4,6, 8	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FLR 7	Lowland Woodland
7.3	Hung Kiu San Tsuen Lowland Woodland	Moderate		Moderate	1, 4, 5, 6,8	1, 4, 6, 8	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
7.7	Lowland Woodland near Tai Tau Leng	Moderate		Moderate	1, 4, 5, 6, 8	1, 4, 6, 8	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FLR 8	Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic
8.3	Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan	Slight		Slight	1, 5, 6, 7	1, 6, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
FLR 9	Agricultural Land
9.2	Fu Tei Au Agricultural Land	Slight		Insignificant	1, 5,4, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
9.5	Agricultural Land at Sheung Shui Wa Shan	Moderate		Moderate	1, 4,5, 7	1, 4, 7	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
9.6	Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Lung Yeuk Tau	Moderate		Slight	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
9.7	Agricultural Land in South of Sha Tau Kok Road	Moderate		Moderate	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
FLR 11	Urban Development Area
11.2	Sheung Shui Urban Area	Slight		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Insignificant	Insignificant	Insignificant
11.3	Fanling Urban Area	Slight		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Insignificant	Insignificant	Insignificant
FLR 12	Rural Development Area
12.5	Wa Shan Rural Development Area	Slight		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
12.6	Lung Yeuk Tau Rural Development Area	Slight		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
12.7	Rural Development Area at Wo Hop Shek and Lung Shan	Slight		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
12.8	Rural Development Area at Ma Shi Po	Slight		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
12.12	Rural Development Area in Long Valley, Yin Kong and Hak Ka Wai	Moderate		Insignificant	1, 4 , 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
12.13	Rural Development Area North of Hong Kong Golf Club	Slight		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
FLR 13	Industrial / Open Storage
13.1	Sheung Shui Industrial/Open Storage Area	Slight	Slight		4, 5, 7	4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
13.2	Fanling Industrial Area	Slight	Slight		4, 5, 7	4, 7	Insignificant	Insignificant	Insignificant
FLR 14	Major Transportation Corridor
14.1	MTRC East Rail	Insignificant		Insignificant	n/a	n/a	Insignificant	Insignificant	Insignificant
14.2	Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau)	Slight		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
14.3	Fanling Highway	Moderate		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
14.4	MTRC near Fanling Highway	Insignificant		Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Insignificant	Insignificant	Insignificant

Table 12D.10.2 Significance of Impacts on LCAs (DP8, 9, 10 and 12)

LCA Code	Name	Impact Significance BEFORE Mitigation (Substantial/ Moderate/ Slight/ Insignificant)		Recommended Mitigation Measures		Residual Impact Significance UPON Mitigation (Substantial/ Moderate/ Slight/ Insignificant)
		Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation (Day 1)	Operation (Day 10)
FLCA-1	Natural Hillside Landscape	Moderate	Insignificant	1, 4, 6, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Insignificant	Insignificant
FLCA-2	Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape	Moderate	Moderate	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FLCA-3	Urban Development Landscape	Slight	Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Slight	Insignificant
FLCA-4	Industrial Landscape	Slight	Slight	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Insignificant	Insignificant	Insignificant
FLCA-5	Lowland Agricultural Landscape	Slight	Slight	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Slight	Slight	Slight
FLCA-6	Major Transportation Corridor Landscape	Slight	Insignificant	1, 4, 5, 7	1, 4, 7	Insignificant	Insignificant	Insignificant
FLCA-7	Major Water Course Corridor Landscape	Moderate	Slight	1, 4, 5, 7, 14	1, 4, 7	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant

In summary, prior to mitigation, substantial adverse impacts have been predicted in the construction stage for FLR 1.4 Ma Wat River. This is as a result of the major excavations required for the channel realignment (approximately 600m in length) to accommodate the route of the Fanling Bypass. As the LR would be replaced albeit in a different alignment, the impact would reduce to moderate adverse in operation without any mitigation. It is considered through the application of mitigation measures in the construction stage including minimising the requirement for topographical changes, enhancement planting along embankment, protecting and preserving exising trees, transplanting trees where feasible together with replacement of the channel to match the existing that this impact can be reduced to slight by operation day 1. Following the establishment of transplanted and compensatory planting by year 10 of operation, these impacts would have reduced to insignificant.

The Natural Stream at Siu Hang San Tsuen (FLR-2.4) will suffer a small change due to the Project (where it flows under the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section) due to the high sensitivity, a moderate adverse impact is predicted prior to mitigation in construction and operation. The affected stream at Siu Hang San Tsuen, has largely been protected by changes to the proposed Schedule 3 boundary during the planning of the revised RODP with much of this stream avoided. However the stretch of this stream within the DP10 boundary would be located underneath the road viaduct. To the south of the viaduct the stream flows through the area D1-3, zoned as Open Space, prior to joining Ng Tung River. In this Open Space Zone a 10m buffer is proposed in which natural vegetation will be retained and enhanced. Human activities will be limited in order to avoid direct impacts to the stream bed and to minimise potential indirect impacts to the stream and riparian corridor. At detailed design, in order to avoid impacts to the stream, the design of the viaduct should follow guidelines such as ETWB Technical Circular (Works) No. 5/2005 Protection of natural streams/rivers from adverse impacts arising from construction works as well as Building Department (BD) Practice Note for Authorized Persons and Registered Structural Engineers 295: Protection of natural streams/rivers from adverse impacts arising from construction works. This will ensure that no viaduct footings or other structures are placed in the stream; in this case the impact is considered to reduce to slight at construction, becoming insignificant by day 1 and year 10 of operation.

Planning of the revised RODP has taken care to place much of the Mitigation Wetland in FLN NDA (FLR-4.2) that falls within the revised RODP on land for ‘Open Space’. The main impacts on this resource are as a result of the Schedule 3 works however moderate adverse impacts in construction and operation, prior to mitigation, are predicted as a result of the construction of the Fanling Bypass Western Section. Whilst the overall area affected is relatively small (1.59ha), this is a highly sensitive and uncommon resource. To address this impact mitigation is provided in the form of the LVNP which will be managed and the land there, including marsh and wetland areas, enhanced, with a slightly increase in wetland areas. Taking into account the LVNP enhancement and smaller level of impact as a result of the Schedule 2 work, the residual impact significance at construction and operation day 1 is considered to reduce to slight, and by year 10 when wetland and marshes in the LVNP mature, the residual impact will insignificant.

Although a relatively small area of Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodland (FLR-6.2) and Hillside Woodland at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan (FLR-6.4) is affected by the construction of the Fanling Bypass, this LR has a high sensitivity and tree felling together with disturbance of natural topography is considered to generate moderate adverse impacts in construction and operation prior to mitigation. In this case, minimising the topographical change within the LR will assist in reducing the overall impact combined with tree preservation, tree transplantation and woodland compensation planting. Moderate adverse impacts would still remain in the construction stages post mitigation, however given the small areas affected planting measures would quickly address the impact reducing it to insignificant by year 10 of operation.

A number of agricultural landscape resources are predicted to experience moderate adverse impacts prior to mitigation in the construction and operational stage. These are FLR9.5 Agricultural Land at Sheung Shui Wa Shan, 9.6 Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Lung Yeuk Tau and 9.7 Agricultural Land in South of Sha Tau Kok Road. Whilst there is no direct compensation for the agricultural land lost, direct mitigation includes the possible preservation and protection of any trees in such LRs and where unavoidably affected, transplantation and compensatory planting will assist in reducing the level of impact very slightly. The LVNP is a key component of the Project with preservation and even enhancement of agricultural land which is intended to help alleviate impacts on agricultural land losses across the whole NDA. In addition, this broad agricultural land category (LR9) encompasses both active and abandoned agricultural land including orchard areas. According to a further review and site inspection in December 2012/January 2013 by PlanD with assistance from AFCD, the amount of active agricultural land affected by the Project in FLN NDA is approximately 24 ha. According to the AFCD Annual Report 2011-2012, currently, there are 4,071 ha of abandoned agricultural land in Hong Kong and 734 ha of active agricultural farmland and as such, the affected agricultural land represents a small percentage of active agriculture land in Hong Kong. In the surrounding areas of the Project, 160 ha of land have been found potentially suitable for agricultural rehabilitation/re-site in the above mentioned site inspection. The major cluster (34 ha) is found at Kwu Tung South. Given all these considerations, the significance of impact on agricultural land in these areas will remain the same at construction and operation day 1, but by year 10 will have dropped to slight.

Moderate adverse impacts in construction and operation prior to mitigation are predicted in relation to FLR 7.3 Hung Kiu San Tsuen Lowland Woodland, FLR 7.7 Lowland Woodland near Tai Tau Leng. These impacts are relate to the loss of lowland woodland resources along the alignments of the proposed Fanling Bypass and Po Shek Wu Interchange. The level of impact is considered to reduce to slight by day 1 and insignificant by year 10 as landscape planting works would provide some compensation and through woodland compensation.

Moderate adverse impacts during construction prior to mitigation are predicted in relation to FLR12.12 Rural Development Area in Long Valley, Yin Kong and Hak Ka Wai and FLR 14.3 Fanling Highway. Given the previously developed nature of 12.12 and existing highway function of 14.3, the proposed works are considered to have fair/good compatibility. The initial impacts would be generated due to the large scale of the construction works. In operation it is considered that the impacts would drop to insignificant levels due to the good compatibility of the DPs with the recieving landscape. In terms of mitigation works, minimisation of topographical change, tree transplanting and compensatory planting is predicted to reduce the moderate adverse impact at the construction stage to slight in relation to the both LRs and insignificant by operation day 1.

Slight adverse impacts prior to mitigation are predicted in relation to FLR 1.1 Ng Tung River (Fanling District), 8.3 Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan, 9.2 Fu Tei Au Agricultural Land, 11.2 Sheung Shui Urban Area, 11.3 Fanling Urban Area, 12.5 Wa Shan Rural Development Area, 12.6 Lung Yeuk Tau Rural Development Area, 12.7 Rural Development Area at Wo Hop Shek and Lung Shan, 12.8 Rural Development at Ma Shi Po, 12.13 Rural Development Area North of Hong Kong Golf Club, 13.1 Sheung Shui Industrial/Open Storage Area 13.2 Fanling Industrial Area and 14.2 Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau). These impacts principally relate to loss of associated tree cover, large scale construction footprint and in the case of FLR 1.1 and 14.2 excavation works associated with the construction of the Fanling Bypass. It is considered that these impacts can be reduced to slight or insignificant levels at the construction stage through tree protection, transplantation, compensatory planting mitigation measures combined with minimising topographical changes. By year 10 all impacts would be insignficant.

It is considered that all the remaining adverse impacts on LRs could be mitigated to insignificant levels at the construction and operational stage through mitigation works, as these remaining resources fall either within industrial or open storage areas where the works would have a good compatibility with the receiving landscape.

The Lowland Agricultural Landscape (FLCA5) affected by the Schedule 2 DPs is predicted to experience slight adverse impacts, prior to mitigation, in the construction and operational stage. Careful planning of the revised RODP means about 58 ha are designated to remain as agricultural land in KTN and FLN NDAs but in these areas referenced agricultural land will be lost. There is no direct compensation measure for the agricultural land lost but some mitigation can be achieved preservation and protection of any trees and where unavoidably affected, transplantation and compensatory planting will assist in reducing the level of impact very slightly. The LVNP is a key component of the Project with preservation and even enhancement of agricultural land which is intended to help alleviate impacts on agricultural land losses across the whole NDA. In the surrounding areas of the Project, 160 ha of land has been found potentially suitable for agricultural rehabilitation/re-site by PlanD with assistance from AFCD. The major cluster (34 ha) is found at Kwu Tung South. By year 10 of operation it is considered the residual impact would remain at a slight adverse level.

Moderate adverse impacts are predicted prior to mitigation works in relation to FLCA1 Natural Hillside Landscape, FLCA2 Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape and FLCA7 Major Water Course Corridor Landscape as a result of the road construction projects. In terms of LCA1, this relates to the high sensitivity of the LCA. The overall area affected in this case is limited and it is considered compensatory woodland planting would quickly reduce this impact to an insignificant level. In terms of FLCA2 and FLCA7, the impacts are mainly generated due to the overall scale of the construction footprint and associated medium sensitivity. In both cases these character areas have undergone development in the past and have capacity to accept a certain level of development. Through mitigation works, in particularly compensatory woodland planting, watercourse mitigation and minimising the need to alter topography, it is considered these impacts can be reduced to insignificant by year 10 of operation.

Slight adverse impacts are predicted in relation to FLCA 3 Urban Development Landscape, FLCA 4 Industrial Landscape and FLCA 6 Major Transportation Corridor Landscape at the construction stage prior to mitigation. The proposed works are considered to have a good compatiblity with these LCAs, therefore would assimilate very quickly during operation. In all cases any adverse impacts can be mitigated to slight or insignificant levels by operation day 1. All impacts would be insignificant by operation year 10 through implementation of tree protection measures, tree transplantation and compensation planting.

12D.10.1 Conclusion

As a result of mitigation measures it is considered that all adverse impacts can be reduced to slight or insignificant levels at the operation stage for the majority of LRs and LCAs in relation to all DP Package D projects.

Mitigation works in relation to these DPs during the construction stage rely heavily on the minimisation of the footprint of the works area, avoidance of significant topographical changes together with retention and protection of existing trees / vegetation. These measures if deployed have the capacity to reduce, in most cases, the level of residual impact experienced by the LRs and LCAs at the construction stage.

It is not possible to fully mitigate all impacts in relation to loss of mature woodland, agriculture and wetland/marsh for all LRs and LCAs in the construction period and early operational stages, mainly as long periods of time are required to sufficiently compensate for this type of impact or sufficient/ suitable space allocated to provide compensation. Woodland compensation measures in combination with transplantation of existing trees (which can help to accelerate the establishment period) applied to the woodland LRs affected will reduce impact levels to slight or insignificant by year 10 of operation when planting has reached maturity.

In terms of agricultural land and wetland/marsh, the LVNP is a key component of the Project with preservation and even enhancement of these LRs which is intended to help alleviate the overall losses across the whole NDA.

Taking into account the above points it is considered that DP 8, 9, 10 and 12 would be broadly acceptable in terms of landscape impacts subject to the full implementation of recommended landscape mitigation measures.

12D.11 Visual Impact Assessment

Visual impacts have been assessed for the construction and operational phases of the Schedule 2 DPs with the methodology and processes as set out in Section 12.19.

12D.11.1 Visual Baseline Conditions

The FLN NDA site boundary occupies around 164 ha and is bound by Fu Tei Au Road to the north, the hill range of Cheung Po Tau, Cham Shan, Wa Shan and Ma Tau Leng to the north-east, Ma Wat River to the east, Sha Tau Kok Road and Ma Sik Road to the south, and Tin Ping Road, Jockey Club Road and Po Wan Road to the south-west with a very small section of the MTRC East Rail line binding it to the west.

Ng Tung River is a major visual component of the area, which flows along the base of the hill ranges to the north of Fanling and Sheung Shui. The area is generally of medium landscape value with high value upland areas of Cham Shan and Wa Shan defining one side of the river valley as a green backdrop into which San Wai/Tai Ling Firing Range integrates well. The urban areas of Fanling/ Sheung Shui, with a number of high rise structures and new developments as well as industries such as vehicle repair and material storage, define the other side of the river. The low-lying river flood plains in between are predominantly of a rural nature, with small scale agricultural plots (both active and abandoned) and some scattered residential settlements and isolated buildings and some open storage, which contrasts with the more natural character of the area. Sheung Shui Slaughter House and Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works are also located in the western area of this NDA, and Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works is located immediately to the north. At the north of Fanling/ Sheung Shui New Town, a number of traditional villages are concentrated, including Sheung Shui Heung, Sheung Shui Wa Shan, Siu Hang Tsuen, Siu Hang San Tsuen and Kan Lung Tsuen, San Wai also lie to the north of the river and are set against the hillside backdrop.

DP 8 – Po Shek Wu Interchange Improvement

This DP, which forms part of the Po Shek Wu Road, is outside the FLN NDA site boundary. It is located to the south of the Sheung Shui urban area linking the Fanling Highway to the Shek Wu Hui district. Po Shek Wu Road passes between the village area of Tai Tau Leng and highrise residential towers of the Choi Yuen Estate, bridging over the MTRC East Rail Line adjacent to the industrial area on San Wan Road, finally linking to the main Sheung Shui urban area. As this in an existing road, development has already established along its alignment; mature street tree planting and plantations in addition to the surrounding buildings generally provides strong visual enclosure to the site. Whilst existing mature tree planting on either side of the road provides important visual amentity, this is an extremely busy 4-lane road (southern section increases to 5 lanes) with large junctions which generates a relatively low quality visual environment. Visibility to the wider landscape is generally restricted to glimpse views of the surrounding mountains however, as the road passes over the MTRC Rail line this open landscape corridor allows unrestricted views to the south east through the Sheung Shui urban area.

To cater for the traffic flow from the FLN NDA, improvement work, including realignment of the Po Shek Wu Road and the construction of an elevated southbound right-turning slip road to bypass the interchange, is proposed. In this case the proposed slip road will be elevated above the existing Po Shek Wu Road, at a level of +20mPD (i.e. road infrastructure has been stacked to reduce the overall footprint and accommodate the improvement works within the existing constraints). A fully enclosed noise barrier, approximately 6m high, will be constructed from the Fanling Highway over a 120m length. At this point the barrier changes to a semi-enclosed type which runs for 320m, splitting in two over the junction with Choi Yuen Road. The full and semi-enclosed barriers generally appears the same, the latter incorporates openings on the side panels. To accommodate the new slip road, the existing bridge crossing the MTR East Rail line will be widened.

The proposed general layout and extent of noise barriers works is presented on Figure 12.52.74. Sections demonstrating the elevated slip road and elevations are provided on Figure 12.52.81 and 82.

DP 9– Fanling Bypass Western Section

This DP interfaces with the northern extent of the FLN NDA boundary along its entire route; this also aligns with the curved route of Ng Tung River. Locally the landscape is low lying, comprising of a series of village areas, some open storage areas and small agricultural plots. Development is set back from the river edge. Tree planting along the river banks helps to conceal the low scale developed areas beyond whereas the open river corridor provides long distance views to the mountain landscape to the north. Open storage land uses in the vicinity are a strong visual detractor in the landscape, in particularly associated with storage of containers along Man Kam To Road.

A roundabout formed on Man Kam To Road on the northside of Ng Tung River is the western most extent of the DP; a pedestrian footbridge crosses the roundabout connecting footpaths to the north, east and west of the roundabout. From this point the bypass heads east and will comprise of two lanes (total 7.5m width) running broadly parallel (not adjacent) to Ng Tung River. The first 200m (approx.) will include a 5m high vertical noise barrier on the north side of the road forming a boundary with Hung Kiu San Tsuen. A 40m section of 3m high barrier is positioned to the east of the roundabout on the boundary of A1-11, a second 45m long section is located on the south side (riverside) of the bypass commencing 50m along the carriageway after the junction with the roundabout. Running parallel with the 3m high noise barrier on the south side of the road, a shorter 3m high section will run for approximately 50m, just after the roundabout.

A further 5m section of noise barrier will run for 130m to the west of Wa Shan together with an 80m section of cantilevered barrier (5m high plus 3m inclined) prior to the proposed roundabout junction with the eastern section of the bypass.

The majority of the proposed road alignment is set away from the main Sheung Shui urban areas to the south however; prior to the junction with DP 10 the alignment comes close the residential areas of Tin Ping Shan Tsuen and Shek Wu San Tsuen.

The proposed general layout and extent of noise barriers works is presented on Figure 12.52.72.

DP 10 – Fanling Bypass Eastern Section

This DP also interfaces with the northern extent of the FLN NDA boundary. At the junction beween the western and eastern section of the bypass a roundabout will be formed approximately 80m in diameter. From this roundabout the by-pass then forms a dual carriageway with central reservation approximately 20m wide constructed on a viaduct. The northern side of the road will have a 3m high noise barrier running for approximately 330m.

Prior to Ng Tung River joining with Ma Wat River, a bridge crossing carries the road alignment south. Half-way across the bridge a 5m high noise barrier will be erected on the northbound parapet and will run for around 120m before changing to a 5m high with 3m inclined canopy noise barrier which will run for around 200m. The road is at grade within this section.

The proposed road follows the alignment of Ng Tung River for a short section, locally this landscape appears much less developed and rural in nature with scattered dwellings and more extensive agricultural plots. Beyond the river corridor where more open views of the wider mountain landscape are experienced; the agricultural areas are low lying and well wooded which encloses potential views. The proposed road crosses Ng Tung River to the west of Kan Lung Tsuen and heads south towards the Sheung Shui industrial area, broadly following the alignment of Ma Wat River. The river is lined with well established woodland areas containing mature tree planting which helps to break up the appearance and extent of village areas to the east of the river.

As the bypass reaches the intersection with Sha Tau Kok road it will be in cutting and pass beneath the existing road. An at-grade roundabout will be formed above the intersection of the two roads connecting them with slip roads. Above the roadabout a pedestrian footbridge links footpaths on either side of the road.

Proceeding south the bypass comes out of cutting and crosses the present alignment of the Ma Wat River. A section of the existing channelised river channel approximately 600m long will be realigned by 100m to the east towards Wing Ning Tsuen and Ma Wat Wai. A 50m section of 5m high noise barrier runs parallel to a 70m section of 5m high with 3m cantilever barrier on this part of the bypass.

The alignment of the bypass remains on viaduct as it heads south following the outer edges of the Fanling industrial area and crossing the river channel at three more points. A 45m section of 4m high noise barrier will be located on the eastern side of the carriageway as it passes Shung Him Tong. To the east of the bypass local villages areas appear within a lush green landscape with undulating topography and mature landscape planting, the industrial area is dominated by generally 6-storey factory buildings, access roads and car parks.

At the southern extent of the Fanling industrial area, the alignment of the bypass will require the demolition of a single factory unit located off Yip Wo Street. From this point the highway continues south and splits into two viaducts to the west of Cyber Domain and then crosses the MTR East Rail Line corridor and Ma Wat River Channel. These viaducts connect the bypass to the northbound and southbound Fanling Highway. A series of 5m high and 5m plus 3m cantilever noise barriers are postioned within the Fanling Highway corridor and along Tai Wo Service Road West. In addition a 66m section of 5m high noise barrier is located on Wo Hing Road to the north of Wo Hop Shek San Tsuen. The landscape in this area opens up considerably into the valley formed by Kei Lak Tsai Mountain and Lung Shan Mountain.

As the southbound section of the bypass joins the Fanling Highway to the west of Yuen Leng a series of 5m high, 5m high with 3m cantilever and 4m high noise barriers run along the eastern side of the Higway. A 7m high noise barrier runs for 200m alongside the slip road of the bypass.

The level ground at the bottom of the valley has been widely developed, most extensively by the Fanling Highway, MTRC East Rail corridor and engineering works to channelise Ma Wat River. Whilst dramatic and highly scenic views are available to the surrounding landscape, many short distance views are of disturbed and developed landscape. Tree planting along the alignment of the Fanling Highway is well established and almost screens the entirety of this major infrastructure corridor.

The proposed general layout and extent of noise barriers works is presented on Figure 12.52.73 & 75. Sections demonstrating the construction of the viaducts and vertical alignment are provided on Figure 12.52.84, 85 & 86.

DP12 – Reprovision of temporary wholesale market in FLN NDA.

The DP involves the reorientation of the existing temporary wholesale market as a result the works to construct DP10 which passes through the existing site. The alignment of Ma Wat River channel forms the boundary to the eastern side with the remaining boundary formed by the Sheung Shui industrial area. The existing market comprises a large expanse of hard standing accessed of On Kui Street. There are no permanent structures or buildings within the site which is entirely level. The majority of the boundary contain planting although the quality and extent is lower along the interface with the industrial area.

The villages of Ma Wat Tsuen and Wing Ning Wai sit just beyond the site boundary across the river channel at a slightly lower ground elevation. Visual connection between these areas is generally restricted to the frontages of the village and where gaps have formed in the existing tree planting on the site boundary. To the west of the site, beyond the industrial area, the high rise residential towers of the Belair Monte and Grand Regentville developments peer into the site. There is a strong visual connection to the mountain backdrop of Kat Tsai Shan Au from within the site.

The precise details of the development at this stage are not confirmed however the facilities would include temporary style stalls (i.e. moveable) of approximate 2-3m height. The number of stalls would vary depending on seller requirements; this cannot be ascertained at this time. The majority of the facility is the creation of flexible open space/hardstanding to accommodate these facilities. Perimeter security fencing approx. 2.5m high to replace the existing would be provided together with an access booth for security personnel.

The proposed general layout and extent of noise barriers works is presented on Figure 12.52.73.

12D.11.2 Visual envelope

The visual envelope (VE) for these DPs is generally shared with that of the FLN NDA project although this area has been extended to incoporate the Po Shek Wu Interchange improvments and the southern section of the Fanling Bypass eastern section. Generally the viewshed is confined to the north and east by the ridgeline formed by the summits of Cheung Po Tau, Cham Shan, Wa Shan and reaching across to the more distant and easterly Tsung Shan and Mau Tau Leng summits. To the south east the foothills of Lung Shan contain the view while to the southern and western side the VE is contained by the high-rise development of Fanling / Sheung Shui.

12D.12 Sensitivity of VSRs/VPs

Table 12D.12.1 below details the VSRs/VPs in relation to the DPs and describes their overall sensitivity. This information is also presented on the following figures:

Figures 12.53.2 VP locations

Figures 12.54.1 to 26 provide representative photographic records from location within each VSR, looking towards the relevant NDA and the DPs. Since special access could not be gained for all VSRs, especially for private residential developments, the representative viewing locations may have been adjusted if necessary. The selected viewing point is considered the best alternative that represents the typical view of the VSRs.

Figures 12.55.8a to 12.55.19b provide respresentative photomontages showing the predicted view from selected viewpoints depicting existing conditions, Day 1 of Operation Phase without Mitigation Measures, Day 1 of Operation Phase with Mitigation Measures and Year 10 of Operation Phase with Mitigation Measures.

Table 12D.12.1 – VSRs and their sensitivity (DP 8, 9, 10 and 12)

VSR Code	Name	Category of VSR (Strategic/ District/ Local)	Type of VSR			Approximate Closest Viewing Distance (m) to Proposed Schedule 2 DP	Number of Individuals (Very Many / Many / Few / Very Few)	Quality of Existing View (Good / Fair / Poor)	Availability of Alternative Views (Yes / No)	Degree of Visibility (Full / Partial / Glimpse)			Duration of view (Long, Medium, Short)		Frequency of View (Very Frequent / Frequent / Occasional / Rare)	Sensitivity (Low, Medium, High)
	Description of Existing View
FVP1	Po Shek Wu Road adjacent Tai Tau Leng	Local	Pedestrian, Residential Travelling.			0	Very Many	Poor	Yes	Full			Short		Very Frequent	Medium
	Ground level roadside view experienced by pedestrians and motorists using Po Shek Wu Road. Residential views from adjacent village area are restricted due to intervening planting; some glimpsed views are possible through screen vegetation. The road infrastructure dominates the foreground with longer distance views comprising high rise residential towers. Mature tree planting provides valuable visual amenity and screens low level views to/from adjacent high rise residential estates. High-rise residential tower blocks together with the large expanse of road reinforce the urban identity of this view.
FVP2	Residential tower, Choi Po Court, Choi Ying House	District	Residential			100	Very Many	Good	Yes	Full			Long		Very Frequent	High
	Elevated view from residential tower block provides a panorama view across the western Sheung Shui area. The combination of the large scale buildings in the Sheung Shui industrial zone, MTR East Rail corridor, villages and comprehensive development areas form a strong urban character. The canopies of mature trees throughout the zone help to break up the appearance of built form and provide a green link to the dramatic mountain scenery in the background.
FVP3	Pedestrian footbridge, San Wan Road	Local	Pedestrian, travelling			180	Many	Poor	Yes	Partial			Short		Frequent	Low
	View from pedestrian bridge crossing and looking back along the MTR East Rail Line corridor towards the Sheung Shui urban area. High rise residential and commercial development within Sheung Shui limits long distance views. Open air car parking, the MTR rail corridor and industrial functions are detractors in the view. The canopy of mature trees forming boundary planting around the car park and the embankments of the elevated Po Shek Wu Road assist in breaking up the appearance of built form.
FVP6b	Highpoint above Fu Tei Au Tsuen, facing east.	District	Recreational			400	Few	Good	Yes	Full			Short		Occasional	Medium
	View from high point above Fu Tei Au Tsuen facing east towards Sheung Shui and Fanling provides a panorama view across the local landscape incorporating numerous villages and agricultural land. The channelized Ng Tung River is a dominant feature in the view as it winds through the level terrain in the middle ground. The development pattern and scale of the village areas creates a strong contrast with the high-rise urban areas. The open storage area located between Fung Kai Secondary School and Man Kam To Road is a significant visual detractor within the view. Stacked container boxes throughout this area are highly visible.
FVP8	Access road adjacent Ng Tung River, west of Wa Shan	Local	Recreational			50	Many	Fair	Yes	Partial			Short		Frequent	Medium
	Typical view from access path running parallel to Ng Tung River to the west of Wa Shan Tsuen. The river corridor allows open uninterrupted views through the local area towards high rise residential tower such as Belair Monte and the mountains in the background. Mature tree cover along the boundary of the path (on both sides of the river) screens the appearance of the smaller scale village type developments and surrounding agricultural land, only the high rise built form within the Sheung Shui / Fanling urban areas is visible.
FVP9	Access track, Sheung Shui Wa Shan	Local	Residential Occupational			125	Few	Fair	Yes	Glimpse			Long		Frequent	Medium
	Typical view experienced from within the Sheung Shui Wa Shan area. The gently sloping terrain and intervening mature vegetation cover forms a comprehensive screen between the village area and Ng Tung River and subsequent urban area of Sheung Shui making outward views difficult. Glimpsed views of mountains and ridgelines within Lam Tsuen Country Park can be seen above the tree line. Land uses within this area are varied; parking, hard standing and smaller commercial units detract from the overall visual quality.
FVP10	Access road, south of Sheung Shui Wa Shan.	Local	Travelling			65	Few	Fair	Yes	Full			Short		Frequent	Low
	Typical view from access road to the south of Sheung Shui Wa Shan, the land use changes to several small agricultural plots which form a border with Ng Tung River access road. The openness of the river corridor allows clear views across to Sheung Shui urban area and the mountain backdrop. The mature tree planting along Ng Tung river helps to screen views towards the river channel; glimpsed views of the engineered river banks and access paths/ramps can be seen below the tree canopies.
FVP13 (F20)	High Rise Residential buildings around Tin Ping Estate	District	Residential - High Rise			390	Very Many	Good	No		Full	Long			Very Frequent	High
	Typical view experienced by residents on the upper floors of the Ting Pin Estate; similar views would be experienced by residents of neighboring developments such as Woodland Crest. For those flats in this area facing north east, at high levels the view is generally open and panoramic. Some blocks will have their views north east partially blocked by the towers of Noble Hill and high rise developments are evident in the foreground to middle distance. Ng Tung River is a dominant visual component which runs through the center of the view along the level valley floor surrounded by a rural landscape of agricultural fields, small villages and extensive woodland. There is a strong visual contrast between the high rise residential towers in the view and the low scale village type development scattered through the valley floor. The back drop to the view is formed by numerous mountains including Tsung Shan and Lung Shan.
FVP14	Footbridge north of Wu Nga Lok Yeung	Local	Pedestrian, Recreational			90	Few	Fair	Yes		Partial		Short		Occasional	Medium
	Typical view experienced by pedestrians using local footpaths along Ng Tung River leading to the Chan Shan and Ting Ping Shan areas from the southern side of Ng Tung River, close to Wu Nga Lok Yeung. A small wooded hill in the middle ground creates a strong focal point which is strengthened by the surrounding mature and semi-natural vegetation cover. Village type development and agricultural plots on the opposing bank of the river is well concealed. Glimpse views to mountain peaks and ridgelines can be seen above the tree canopy.
FVP15 (F4)	Siu Hang San Tsuen	Local	Residential - Low Rise			200	Few	Good	No	Partial			Long	Very Frequent		High
	Typical view from southern extent of the village of Siu Hang San Tsuen. As a result of local topography and vegetation cover, views from this point are very open. Ground level views are across agricultural fields on the opposing side of the Ng Tung River. The high-rise buildings of the Sheung Shui / Fanling urban area are clearly visible in the middle distance serving as a backdrop to this rural area.
FVP16 (F11)	Belair Monte & Regentville	District	Residential - High Rise			70	Very Many	Good	No	Full			Long		Very Frequent	High
	Typical view from high rise residential tower; there are a number of high rise residential buildings in this vicinity including Belair Monte and Regentville with similar views. Views at ground level are blocked by buildings and existing vegetation whereas apartments at elevated levels and facing north will have direct views towards the DP and wider landscape setting. The current view north is very rural and green in nature, with agricultural land interspersed with houses and small village areas and parts of Ng Tung River channel also visible In the background the green Tsung Shan and Wa Shan hills are evident with wooded lower slopes leading to shrub land near the summits. High rise buildings in Shenzhen are also visible in the far distance.
FVP17	Bridge over Ma Wat River, Sha Tau Road.	Local	Travelling,			100	Many	Fair	Yes	Partial			Short		Frequent	Medium
	Typical view on approaching the Fanling urban area from Sha Tau Kok Road. Mature tree and amenity shrub planting helps to reduce the appearance of built form and create a formal / municipal style landscape character. High rise developments such as Grand Regentville appear above the tree line. Long distance views area limited by tree cover and intervening built form.
FVP18	Road Junction west of Ning Wai & Wing Ning Tsuen	Local	Residential, Pedestrian			30	Many	Fair	Yes	Partial		Long			Frequent	High
	Typical view from properties fronting the villages of Ning Wai and Wing Ning Tsuen which look directly over Ng Tung River towards the existing wholesale market site. As a result of breaks in vegetation cover and neighboring land uses the view is relatively open. A clear view towards Grand Regentville and Belair Monte residential developments is possible. Temporary cabins, market stalls and canopies can be seen within the market site. Long distance views are generally limited by the local woodland cover.
FVP19 (F9)	Agricultural plots, Ma Wat Wai.	Local	Recreational			600	Few	Fair	Yes	Partial			Medium		Occasional	Medium
	Views along the Heritage trail change along the route but generally to the west, in the direction of the DPs, they extend over a rural landscape of agricultural fields to Ma Wat River Channel in the foreground with Lung Shan mountain range visible to the south east. Looking north, the natural uplands of Wa Shan and Tsung Shan are in the background. The trail is predominantly along low lying ground and at certain points the large medium-rise commercial/ industrial area near On Lok Tsuen is visible, as is Sha Tau Kok Road, but these are often blocked by vegetation and other village structures. The high-rise buildings of Sheung Shui / Fanling urban area are also visible in the background at certain points along the route. In general views along this trail are mixed being largely rustic at close range and taking in ancient buildings, but with elements of urban development clearly evident in the middle to far distance.
FVP20 (F8)	Access road, Shung Him Tong	Local	Residential - Low Rise			475	Very Few	Fair	No	Glimpse			Long		Frequent	Medium
	Views from Shung Him Tong north west extend over Ma Wat River Channel to the medium rise commercial / industrial area at On Lok Tsuen. The view is partially screened by existing vegetation in the foreground. High rise residential buildings such as Grand Regentville are clearly visible above the vegetation. To the north, the uplands of Wa Shan and Tsung Shan can be seen.
FVP21	Highpoint within On Lok Tsuen	Local	Residential			50	Few	Fair	No	Partial			Long		Frequent	High
	In general, views out of this area are limited to highpoints or upper floors of buildings as low level views are screened by dense and mature woodland which covers a large proportion of this lowland hillside area. The views out generally comprise a wall of urban development formed by the Fanling Industrial zone and high rise residential development which appears above the industrial roof line. The dense and mature vegetation in the foreground of the view creates a robust buffer between this land and adjacent urban uses, also creating a strong visual contrast between natural landscape and large scale urban form.
FVP22	Bus stop, Cyber Domaine residential estate	Local	Residential, pedestrian, travelling.			70	Many	Good	Yes	Full			Long		Frequent	High
	Typical view from street level at the front of the Cyber Domaine residential area. The views from this area are generally open as the landscape between the estate and the Fanling Highway, in the middle ground, has relatively little vegetation cover and is predominantly level. Mature tree planting on the embankments along the Fanling Highway almost completely screen the highway. Residential high-rise development within the Dawning Views Estate and Avon Park Estate are dominant elements of the view. The ridgeline of Lam Tsuen Country Park from the backdrop can also be seen.
FVP23	Pedestrian footbridge, Kau Lung Hang San Wai	District	Residential, Pedestrian, travelling.	100			Many	Good	Yes	Full			Long		Frequent	High
	Typical view experienced from the south east of Fanling, looking back up through the Fanling Highway and MTR East rail corridor from residential village area of Kau Lung Hang San Wai. Dense and mature tree planting on the embankments of the Fanling Highway almost completely screen this major piece of infrastructure. The undulating hillside terrain on either side of this low valley promotes a strong rural feeling. This floor of the valley has undergone significant visual and physical change as a result of the Fanling Highway development, MTR East rail line and major channelisation of Ma Wat River. Service roads, drainage channels and randomly development plots within the middle ground detract from the quality of the view.
FVP24	Wo Hing Road, Wo Hop Shek Village	Local	Residential, Occupational, pedestrian, travelling.			50	Many	Fair	Yes	Partial			Long		Frequent	High
	This VP demonstrates the view in front of the Wo Hop Shek Village from Wo Hing Road. Dense and mature vegetation in the foreground creates a robust screen between this area and the Fanling Highway interchange slip roads and viaducts. Glimpse views over this planting to the mountains and ridgelines of Lung Shan provide valuable visual amenity.
FVP25	Residential Block, Wah Sum Estate	District	Residential		515		Very Many	Good	Yes	Full			Long		Very Frequent	High
	This VP demonstrates the typical view from residential towers located at the Wah Sum Estate and its immediate vicinity. The elevation allows for an unobstructed view through the valley to the south east of Fanling and along the infrastructure corridor formed by the MTR East Rail Line and Fanling Highway. The mountainsides of Lung Shan and Kau Lung Hang Shan dominate the view. Villages and isolated developments occupy a large percentage of the valley floor.

Remarks: The approximate closest viewing distance to the proposed DP is measured from the edge of the VSR group to the closest building proposed within the DP.

12D.13 Visual Impact Assessment

The potential sources of visual impact due to the Project are described in Section 12D.4 and 5. They will create varying levels of visual impact during the construction and operation phases in relation to each DP, due to factors such as obstruction of views, degradation of the quality of existing views and visual incompatibility with the surrounding landscape context. The visual impact assessment will consider each DP individually.

12D.13.1 Magnitude of Visual Change

The magnitude of visual change is largely dependent on a number of factors as outlined in the methodology. In general, the magnitude of change will reduce the further a VSR is from the Project.

Detailed engineering design of built elements the DPs is ongoing at this stage therefore, the structures shown in the photomontages may change as detailed design is refined.

Table 12D.13.1 details the magnitude of change in relation to DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12.

Table 12D.13.1- Magnitude of visual change for VSRs - DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12

Remarks: The approximate closest viewing distance to the proposed DP is measured from the edge of the VSR group to the closest built structure.

VP (Yes [Y]/ blank)	VSR Code (Code for other NDA)	Name	VSR Category (Strategic/ District/ Local)	Key Designated Projects (DPs)/ Sites with Structures causing Visual Impact (Land Use Type)*	Blockage of View (Full/ Partial/ Nil)	Approximate Closest Viewing Distance to Proposed NDA (m)	Scale of Development (Large/ Medium/ Small)	Compatibility with Surrounding Landscape (Good /Fair /Poor)		Duration of Impact (Temporary [Short/Medium term], Permanent)		Reversibility of Change (Reversible/ Irreversible)		Magnitude of Change (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible)
								Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation
		Description of Impacts during Construction and Operation
	FVP1	Po Shek Wu Road adjacent Tai Tau Leng.	Local	DP8	Full	0	Large	Poor	Fair	Temporary [Short]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		The construction of a fully enclosed acoustic barrier, approximately 6m high, combined with an elevated viaduct structure approximately 14m high (to top of enclosure) above will obstruct the entirety of this view and prevent any medium to long distance views from pedestrian level. At ground level only small sections of the new structure will be visible at any one time however for elevated views from upper storeys of local buildings a more entire view of the whole structure will be possible. Whilst this development will be within an existing road corridor, it is considered the height and extent of new above ground structures will create a considerable change in the view, in particularly during construction where extensive temporary works will be required therefore, it is considered that the compatibility during construction would be poor. The present 4 (in part 5) lane road is very busy and an existing visual detractor, given this function and the neighbouring industrial and rail infrastructure landscapes the compatibility of the DP in operation is considered to be fair. In general, views form this VSR will experience full blockage by the proposed DP. The scale of development is considered to be large taking into account the size and height of the proposed structure. Overall the magnitude of change is predicted to be large during construction as the temporary works are likely to be extensive. In operation the magnitude of change is also considered to be large as this significant new structure will be largely unscreened.
Y	FVP2	Residential tower, Choi Po Court, Choi Ying House.	Strategic	DP8	Partial	100	Large	Poor	Fair	Temporary [Short]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		The construction of a fully enclosed acoustic barrier, approximately 6m high, combined with an elevated viaduct structure approximately 14m high (to top of enclosure) above will appear over the entire section of Po Shek Wu Road leading up to the crossing point of the MTRC East Rail Corridor where the enclosure terminates and the viaduct drops down to the deck level of the existing bridge and then crosses over the MTRC East Rail corridor. The viaduct joins to the eastern side of the bridge forming an additional two lanes. Elevated views from neighbouring high-rise developments will experience a more comprehensive view of the height and extent of these structures together with their roofscape. The widening of the existing bridge of the rail corridor will also increase the visibility of engineered structures. Beyond the existing bridge the additional road lanes converge with the existing road alignment however, some tree losses on the eastern side will be required to form the slip roads. Whilst the DP sits within an existing road corridor, the proposed above ground structures are very different to the existing type of road development in form and height and will greatly increase the visual presence of the road, constituting a large change in the view especially during construction therefore the compatibility is considered to be poor at this stage. The existing 4-5 lane road is very busy and an existing visual detractor, given this function and the context of neighbouring industrial and major infrastructure landscapes the compatibility of the DP in operation is considered to be fair, in addition the enclosures will help block views of traffic. Overall the magnitude of change is predicted to be large during construction and large during operation.
	FVP3	Pedestrian footbridge, San Wan Road	Local	DP8	Partial	180	Small	Poor	Fair	Temporary [Short]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Intermediate
		The construction of a fully enclosed acoustic barrier, approximately 6m high, combined with an elevated viaduct structure approximately 14m high (to top of enclosure) above will appear to the right hand side of the bridge in the centre of the view. The full enclosure of the road terminates prior to the bridge crossing however; the elevated viaduct above the lower enclosure will taper down to meet the bridge level at the threshold to the crossing point. The viaduct joins to the eastern side of the bridge forming an additional two lanes, this is the other side of the bridge when viewed from this position. Existing tree planting on either side of the bridge is likely to screen low level views of new structures as it already provides a robust screen in relation to the road therefore the full scale of the proposed DP would not visible from this point. Whilst the DP sits within an existing road corridor and would be seen in the context of the rail corridor and industrial setting, the proposed above ground structures are very different to the existing type of road development in form and height. It is considered this will greatly increase the visual presence of the road and bridge crossing, creating a relatively large change in the view especially during construction therefore the construction stage compatibility is considered to the poor, reducing to fair in operation. Overall the magnitude of change is predicted to be large during construction as temporary works are likely to extensive and intermediate during operation as the majority of the works will be screened by intervening vegetation.
Y	FVP6b	Highpoint above Fu Tei Au Tsuen, facing east.	District	DP9	Partial	400	Medium	Poor	Fair	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Intermediate
		The construction of the Fanling Bypass Western Section would commence in the middle-ground of this view to the northof the road bridge crossing Ng Tung River. At this point a roundabout will be formed to create a junction with the Man Kam To Road which will require an extensive area of lowland woodland to be felled which will open up views along the new road corridor. A pedestrian footbridge bridge would be constructed over the roundabout. Beyond the woodland the road corridor would pass through an area of open storage with some small woodland areas. The road at this point will comprise two lanes (total 7.5m width) running broadly parallel (not adjacent) to Ng Tung River. The first 200m (approx.) will include a 5m high vertical noise barrier on the north side of the road forming a boundary with Hung Kiu San Tsuen. Running parallel with the 3m high noise barrier on the south side (riverside) of the road, a 3m high section will run for approximately 50m, just after the roundabout. There are no further noise barriers visible along this section. As the road continues east, away from this view, it veers towards Ng Tung River and starts to follow the curve of the channel, the road would then gradually disappear from view after approximately 600m as existing woodland cover along the river channel would start to screen the view. Whilst landscape within the alignment has been previously disturbed through open storage functions, the road will introduce a completely new type of development into this zone requiring the removal of numerous tree groups which during construction would constitute a large change in the view. In terms of compatibility, the highly engineered channel of Ng Tung River provides a precedent for large scale engineered linear forms within the landscape, albeit that the river is not a transport corridor. It is considered that as the new road is situated close to this existing feature that this would make the new road appear less alien within the landscape setting. However, the road in combination with the river channel would create a wide corridor of engineered linear forms which would make these features even more conspicuous, especially within the more natural appearance of the landscape to the north of the river. In this case the compatibility during construction is considered to be poor given the likely footprint of construction works; during operation the compatibility would become fair as the footprint reduces and only short sections of the road can be seen at any one time, due to the curved alignment. Given the panoramic nature of this view comprising numerous elements and a large scale backdrop, the scale of the development in the view is considered to be medium. The magnitude of change is considered to be large during construction and intermediate in operation.
	FVP8	Access road adjacent Ng Tung River, west of Wa Shan	Local	DP9	Partial	50	large	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Intermediate	Intermediate
		The Fanling Bypass Western Section runs parallel to the riverside access road at the east. The road corridor including the pedestrian footpaths on either side would be around 25m wide at this point. In order to construct the bypass, tree felling will occur throughout the proposed alignment which will open up direct views to the road corridor along this route. In addition a pedestrian footbridge will be constructed over the road which would appear above the tree line. The road alignment continues parallel to the river channel throughout this view until it follows the river around the bend and out of view. The existing line of trees which run directly parallel to the access road provide intermittent screening, in addition the route is slightly elevated compared to the adjacent ground level which may increase the visibility into the centre of the road scheme. 200m along the road from this point, on the north side (far side) of the bypass, there will be a 200m long section of 5m high noise barrier. This barrier would be visible in front of the small hill in the middle ground of this view. It is likely that partial views of the upper sections of these barriers would just be visible above the tree canopies on the access road. Vegetation that would be removed within the proposed road alignment currently screens the developments beyond. This function would be compromised resulting in increased visibility through this area in addition to views of a new road. It is considered that this development would have a poor compatibility with the existing view during construction and operation due to the scale of the construction footprint. The visibility of the proposed road would be restricted as a result of existing tree cover; in addition the curved alignment limits the extent of the view. In this case the magnitude of change is considered to be intermediate in both construction and operational stages.
	FVP9	Access track, Sheung Shui Wa Shan	Local	DP9	Partial	125	Medium	Fair	Fair	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Intermediate	Intermediate
		The Fanling Bypass Western Section would pass this VSR approximately 125m at the southwest; the road corridor inclusive of pedestrian footpath would be around 27m wide. The additional width relates to a new bridge and road junction (not part of the DP) which connects to the bypass at this point. The typical view at ground level is contained by tree and shrub planting in the foreground therefore, direct views of the DP are not considered to be possible; this is the case throughout the immediate area. Views from upper floors of village houses are likely to have partial views of the development as this area is elevated above the proposed road corridor providing the opportunity for more direct views. The higher the viewing elevation, the more of the road corridor would be visible. Whilst the road corridor would be generally obscured by intervening vegetation, a 200m section of 5m high noise barrier located approximately 180m to the south of this point (left hand side of the view) would become visible from upper floor of local buildings. It is likely only the upper section of the barriers would be visible. As the majority of the development in this area is low rise and extensive views over the road corridor are limited by vegetation and topography, it is considered that the compatibility of this development with the existing view would be fair in construction and operation. The magnitude of change therefore, is considered to be intermediate during construction and in operation.
	FVP10	Access road, south of Sheung Shui Wa Shan.	Local	DP9	Partial	65	Large	Poor	Fair	Temporary [Short]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		The Fanling Bypass Western Section would pass directly through the centre of this view on the near side of the line of trees visible in the middle ground. The route would run parallel to the alignment of the riverside path which can be seen beneath the tree canopy. The bypass would mainly replace agricultural land through this section with less tree felling required. As the view demonstrates, this area is wide open with minimal tree cover therefore direct and uninterrupted views of the development are possible. The road would comprise of two lanes in this location; the road from which this view is taken would also form a junction with the bypass and riverside road. The bypass including pedestrian footpaths is approximately 25m wide; the road would also be elevated on embankment at the same height as the riverside access road. There is no noise barrier proposed within the section so views would continue over and beyond Ng Tung River. Whilst this area has already been cleared of vegetation for agricultural uses it still retains a rural character and separation from the high rise urban in the back ground of the view, in this case it is considered the compatibility of the development would be poor during construction due to the scale of the works area. In operation the compatibility would become fair as the visibility of construction operation/footprint reduces, the roadscape would also be seen next to the highly engineered form of Ng Tung River. As views towards the works area are completely unscreened and would occupy the entirety of the immediate foreground the magnitude of change is considered to be large both during construction and operation.
Y	FVP13 (F20)	High Rise Residential buildings around Tin Ping Estate	District	DP9 and DP10	Partial	390	Large	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		DP 9 The Fanling Bypass Western Section would appear at the west (from the left hand side of the view) running parallel to the Ng Tung river from this elevated location. The road corridor would be approximately 10m wide at this point. Tree felling would be required along the alignment in an area containing pockets of mature vegetation and agricultural land; this would open up views of the developed areas beyond the tree cover. There is no noise barrier or pedestrian bridge proposed on this section, all construction will be at-grade. Given the varying quality and density of existing planting along the riverside, intermittent views of the road through the planting is likely. Whilst there are relatively large areas of low scale development in this location, the overall picture is that of a rural and wooded lower hillside therefore, the compatibility of DP 9 at this point is considered to be poor both in construction and operation. DP10 Western section of the bypass joins with DP 10 Fanling Bypass Eastern Section at a roundabout near the second bridge at the northern bank of the river. The roundabout is approximately 80m across and will require an extensive area of tree felling, demolition of existing structures and alterations to existing levels and topography. From this roundabout the by-pass then forms a dual carriageway with central reservation approximately 20m wide. The northern side of the road will have a 3m high noise barrier running for approximately 330m. Views from this point will be able to look up through the alignment of the road corridor therefore increasing the overall visibility of the development. The road alignment will also pass through a well wooded area requiring extensive tree clearance works. Beyond the second river crossing visible in the centre of the view, Ng Tung River turns to the south at which point the by-pass crosses the channel on a new bridge (location marked on existing image for reference), just before the river joins with Ma Wat River, and then passes through an area of relatively open ground in front of Kan Lung San Tsuen. The bridge would be a highly visible and large structure in the view. Half-way across the bridge a 5m high noise barrier will be erected on the near-side parapet and will run for around 120m before changing to a 5m high with 3m inclined canopy noise barrier which will run for around 200m. The barrier will be seen crossing the open ground to the right hand side of the river in this view. Beyond the river crossing the acoustic barriers will screen views of the bypass however; the barriers would be a highly visible linear element in the landscape. In the case of both DP9 and DP 10, a large proportion of the works area would be visible including significant structures such as the bridge crossing and extensive noise barrier works. The combined works area will span the entire view and introduce a series of large scale engineered structures into a relatively low scale and open landscape setting; as a result it is considered that the compatibility of the development would be poor in construction and operation. The magnitude of change, therefore, is considered to be large during construction and large during operation.
	FVP14	Footbridge north of Wu Nga Lok Yeung	Local	DP9 and DP10	Partial	90	Large	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		DP9 The Fanling Bypass Western section would be visible from the west to east (to the left hand side of the footbridge) on the opposing riverbank; it would appear as a 10m wide road corridor running parallel to the river channel set back by around 20m from the line of existing trees. There are no noise barriers or pedestrian bridges on this section of DP9. The proposed bypass would be at a similar ground elevation at this point therefore views of the road surface are likely to be restricted. The most noticeable change would be that the tree felling required for the route alignment would open up views deeper into the developed areas beyond. DP10 Directly across the footbridge on the opposing side of the river, the western by-pass joins with DP 10 Fanling Bypass Eastern Section at a roundabout. The roundabout is approximately 80m across and will require an extensive area of tree felling, demolition of existing structures and alterations to existing levels and topography. From this roundabout the by-pass forms a dual carriageway with central reservation, the approximate width is 20m. The northern side of the road will have a 3m high noise barrier running for approximately 330m. Views along this road corridor will be possible. To the east, further along Ng Tung River, the channel turns to the south. At this point the eastern by-pass crosses the channel on a new bridge (location marked on existing image for reference), just before the river joins with Ma Wat River. The bridge would be a highly visible and large structure appearing above the existing crossing point which can be seen in the view. Half-way across the bridge a 5m high noise barrier will be erected on the near-side parapet and will be visible above the channel. The extent of the barrier visible will be restricted by tree cover as the bridge and bypass continue out of the view to the right hand side. In the case of both DP9 and DP 10, a large proportion of the works area would be visible, including significant above ground structures, such as the bridge crossing and extensive noise barrier works. As a result the overall compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be poor. The combined works area will span the entire view and introduce a series of large scale engineered structures into an area which appears undeveloped and relatively natural therefore, the magnitude of change is considered to be large during construction and operation.
	FVP15 (F4)	Siu Hang San Tsuen	Local	DP10	Partial	200	Medium	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Intermediate	Small
		The alignment of the Fanling Bypass Eastern section would cross directly through the middle ground of this view. The ground elevation can be seen dropping away in the foreground; in this case lower level sections of the bypass will not be visible, in additional a belt of tree planting to the south of the village provides some screening. Directly in the centre of the view, beyond the first line of existing trees, the bypass crosses the Ng Tung river at which point the structure of the bridge would appear above the tree line. Half-way across the bridge a 5m high noise barrier will be erected on the far-side parapet and will be highly visible. The barrier will run for around 120m before changing to a 5m high with 3m inclined canopy noise barrier which runs for a further 200m. Over this distance the barrier and bridge will slowly taper out of view. Views from the upper storeys of local village houses in Siu Hang San Tsuen will have a more extensive and entire view of the bypass construction and the bridge formation. The views from this point are currently very open, over a level landscape. The new bypass will appear directly in the centre of the view, partially obstructing the current long distance vistas. It is therefore considered that the compatibility of the development in construction and operational stages would be poor. Given the long viewing distance and screening provided by vegetation to the south of the village the magnitude of change is considered to be intermediate during construction. In operation the bypass will sit low down within the landscape with an urban backdrop, slowly tapering out of view; as a result the magnitude of change in operation would be small.
Y	FVP16 (F11)	Belair Monte & Regentville	District	DP10	Partial	70	Medium	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		The Fanling Bypass Eastern section would start at the base of the small hill on the left hand side of this view, commencing with a roundabout approximately 80m across. The alignment of the road would then run horizontally across the centre of the view following the alignment of the Ng Tung River Channel. The bypass construction along this entire section is dual carriageway with a central reservation. The roundabout will require an extensive area of tree felling, demolition of existing structures and alteration to existing levels and topography. Tree felling will continue along the alignment of the road creating an open corridor of about 20m which would be visible across the landscape. The construction width of this corridor may require additional felling. The first 330m of the bypass leading from the roundabout will have a 3m high noise barrier on the far side, the upper section of the this structure may be visible from this point. Approximately 2/3 of the way across this view, the bypass crosses the Ng Tung River on a new bridge and the alignment follows the Ma Wat River Channel which approaches the viewpoint. From this angle the road alignment would be relatively well embedded into the existing tree/vegetation cover within this rural landscape however, where the highway bridge the river, the construction will become increasingly more visible. In addition, a 5m high noise barrier which runs from the midpoint of the bridge for around 120m before changing to a 5m high with 3m inclined canopy noise barrier which runs for a further 200m will be highly visible and add significant bulk to the structure from this angle. The bypass will run through the agricultural land on the right hand side of the image, on a viaduct initially, then returning to at-grade level. The viaduct deck level will be around 6m above adjacent ground level, the road will then move out of view from this point. Given the scale and visibility of the bypass in the view and taking into account the existing strong rural character and openness, the compatibility of the development in this location is considered to be poor both in construction and operation. Given the scale and likely high visibility of the highway, bridge and associated noise barriers the magnitude of change is considered to be large during construction and operational stages.
Y	FVP17	Bridge over Ma Wat River, Sha Tau Road.	Local	DP10	Partial	100	Large	Poor	Good	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Intermediate
		DP10 The existing wide junction in the foreground will be reconfigured into a roundabout approximately 75m across and the alignment of the Fanling Highway Eastern section will pass beneath in cutting. A series of pedestrian walkways crosses the roundabout connecting to the footpaths on either side of the roundabout. The construction of the above ground structure would require minor tree clearance to the west of the roundabout (right hand side of the picture) however this would not open up any additional views. As a result of existing tree cover and surrounding urban development the extent of the view is limited, in addition the proposed above ground structures are generally in keeping with the existing urban setting. The scale of the roundabout is broadly similar to the existing junction and the bypass will be in cutting therefore it will not be visible. In this case it is considered the development would have a good compatibility with the existing visual setting during operation. In the construction stage it is considered the compatibility would be poor due to the likely scale of works required, in particularly the excavation required to sink the alignment. Given the likely large scale of the temporary works, the magnitude of change during the construction stage is considered to be large. As a result of the good compatibility of the development, mainly due to the concealment of the highway, the magnitude of change in operation is considered to be intermediate.
Y	FVP18	Road Junction west of Ning Wai & Wing Ning Tsuen	Local	DP10 and DP 12	Partial	30	Large	Poor	Good	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Intermediate
		DP 10 The Fanling Bypass Eastern section will be in cutting throughout this view therefore will not be visible. In the centre of the view, to the right hand side of the existing residential towers, a series of pedestrian walkways will be visible associated with the new roundabout formed at the junction of Sha Tau Kok Road and Ma Sik Road. The construction of the above ground structure would require minor tree clearance to the west of the roundabout (right hand side of the junction) however this would not open up any additional views towards this area. It is likely that partial views into the road cutting from the upper storeys of village houses on the frontage of Wing Ning Tsuen would be possible due to close proximity. The overall width of the cutting and slip roads is approximately 40m at this point. It is considered that the above ground structures in this view are generally in keeping with the urban setting; in this case it is considered the development would have a good compatibility with the existing visual setting during operation. In the construction stage it is considered the compatibility would be poor due to the likely scale of construction works required, mainly due to the excavation required to sink the alignment of the by-pass. DP 12 The alignment of DP 10 requires that the existing Fanling Wholesale market, which is visible as the area of level ground in the centre of the view across the river channel, will require re-orientation. The existing site is presently completely open and surfaced with asphalt; there are also no permanent above ground structures. Half of the site will be taken by the bypass construction to the left hand side of the view and be re-provided to the north in between the current site and Sha Tau Kok Road. Some minor tree clearance will be required within the centre of the site however this will not open up any new views towards this area. Views from the upper floors of the house on the frontage of Wing Ning Tsuen will be able to look across the new area of hard standing where the intervening trees screen is broken. As the reprovision works will affect a relatively large area and will increase the visibility of hard standing from elevated views, it is considered the compatibility during construction would be relatively poor. As the market contains no permanent above ground structures and comprises of just temporary stalls and canopies, in addition to a large area of hard standing, the compatibility during operation is considered to be fair. Given the likely large scale of the temporary works for both of these projects, large scale excavation and the overall extent of the construction footprint, the magnitude of change during the construction stage is considered to be large. As a result of the good compatibility of the development, mainly due to the concealment of the highway and relocation of the market facilities broadly in the same location, the magnitude of change in operation is considered to be intermediate.
	FVP19 (F9)	Agricultural plots, Ma Wat Wai.	Local	DP10	Partial	90	Large	Poor	Fair	Temporary [Short]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Intermediate
		The Fanling Bypass Eastern Section will pass through the mid-ground of this view (approx. 90m) in the place of the various sheds, buildings, trees and agricultural plots which can be seen across the open agricultural land in the foreground. The openness of the agricultural fields will allow a direct view of the bypass which will be on viaduct at this point. The viaduct will gradually increase in height from the right to the left of the view as the road comes out of cutting; the road deck level will be 7.6m above existing ground level. In addition to the viaduct structure, two sections of 5m high plus 3m inclined canopy noise barrier will be constructed on either side of the viaduct which will be clearly visible from this point. The longest section of the noise barrier runs for approximately 150m on the far side of the viaduct, the second section on the nearside runs for 50m and will be seen in front of the longer section. Given the openness and undeveloped nature of the view in the foreground, the compatibility of the works in construction would be poor, in operation the road would be seen with a large scape urban backdrop, as a result the compatibility would be fair. It is considered, due to the scale of the works, that the compatibility of the project during construction and operation will be poor. There will be a significant level of visual change in this location, therefore the magnitude of change is considered to be large during construction. Post construction the road will be seen with a large scale urban backdrop, as a result the magnitude of change would drop to Intermediate.
	FVP20 (F8)	Access road, Shung Him Tong	Local	DP10	Partial	120	Large	Poor	Fair	Temporary [Short]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Intermediate
		DP10 The Fanling Bypass Eastern Section will pass through the mid-ground, to the left hand side of this view (approx. 120m). The alignment will require the felling of trees and clearance of land within a 25m corridor. Intervening mature vegetation, in the foreground of the view, will break up the visibility of new structure from this point, including views from the upper storeys of village houses in the vicinity. The bypass will comprise a viaduct at around 7.6m above existing ground level. In addition to the viaduct structure, two sections of 5m high plus 3m inclined canopy noise barrier will be constructed on either side; glimpse views of these structures are likely between retained vegetation. The viaduct and associated noise barriers are likely to be partially screened by intervening vegetation and in this case the views from this point will not be fully obstructed with the bypass appearing more embedded with the local landscape. The construction works for the bypass are likely to be large in scale within an undeveloped rural area therefore the compatibility during construction is considered to be poor. As the majority of the structure is likely to be screened by intervening vegetation the compatibility is considered to be fair during operation, taking into account the further encroachment of urban development towards this VSR. Due to the anticipated scale of the works the magnitude of change is considered to be large in the construction stage; as the structure is likely to be partially screened by existing vegetation the magnitude of change will reduce to intermediate during operation.
Y	FVP21	Highpoint within On Lok Tsuen	Local	DP10	Partial	60	Large	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Short]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		The Fanling Bypass will cross the middle ground of this view, approximately 60m away. The ground elevates away from the bypass at this point, the viewpoint elevation is approximately 34mPD whereas the road deck level will be around 11.2mPD therefore the view will overlook the road structure with potential direct views into the corridor and of the road surface. The bypass construction will be on viaduct throughout this section including a 45m length of 5m high noise barrier. Views will partially screened by the tree canopy immediately in front of this viewpoint. Extensive tree felling and site clearance works will be required within the construction corridor to form the road which will be approximate 20m wide at this location. In this case the extent of tree canopy within the view will be significantly reduced which will further expose the road corridor. The construction works for the bypass are likely to be large in scale within an undeveloped rural area therefore the compatibility during construction is considered to be poor. The road will encroach further into this well wooded location obstructing a significant proportion of the view therefore the compatibility in operation is considered to be poor. Due to the anticipated scale of the works the magnitude of change is considered to be large in the construction stage; although the bypass will have some screening it will dominate the immediate view therefore the magnitude of change during operation is considered to be large.
Y	FVP22	Bus stop, Cyber Domaine residential estate	Local	DP10	Partial	70	Large	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		DP10 The Fanling Bypass Eastern section will run directly through the centre of this view, right to left, on a viaduct approximately 70m away. The viaduct is approximately 20m wide; it then splits into two slip roads which then continue south connecting to the north and south carriageways of the Fanling Highway. The bypass would run through open ground therefore would be highly visible; the elevation of the viaduct at road level would be around 7.6m above the adjacent ground level. There are no noise structures planned at this location. The viaduct structure will obstruct the entire middle ground of the view, removing the existing long distance vistas to the woodland cover around the Fanling Highway. The residential towers of Dawning Views and hillside beyond would remain above the structure. The construction works for the bypass are likely to be large in scale within an open and undeveloped rural area therefore the compatibility during construction and operation is considered to be poor. The structure will be highly visible and occupy a large proportion of the existing view therefore the magnitude of change is considered to be large during construction and large in operation.
Y	FVP23	Pedestrian footbridge, Kau Lung Hang San Wai	District	DP10	Partial	100	Large	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Large
		DP10 At this point the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section forms a slip road connecting to the south bound carriageway of the Fanling Highway. The road would be on a viaduct at this point gradually tapering down to the level of the existing highway. The bypass slip lane is approximately 6.5m wide in this location. The bypass runs down the centre of the valley on the far side of the Ma Wat River and joins the highway to the left hand side of the view. Clearance of well-established woodland plantation associated with the Fanling Highway would be required, whilst this would not open up new views, it would reduce the overall appearance of woodland within this zone. The open view down through the valley would allow unobstructed views of a large proportion of the construction works for the bypass therefore the compatibility with the existing view is considered to be poor. Whilst the landscape within the valley floor has been highly disturbed as a result of the MTRC East Rail Line corridor, channelisation of the Ma Wat River and alignment of the Fanling Highway, the new bypass would be elevated and highly visible and introduce a large scale structure into a relatively open landscape, in this respect the compatibility of the project during operation is considered to be poor. The scale and extent of the bypass will be significant and highly visible, introducing a large new structure within a relatively open landscape therefore, the magnitude of change during construction and operation is considered to be large.
Y	FVP24	Wo Hing Road, Wo Hop Shek Village	Local	DP10	Partial	50	Medium	Poor	Poor	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Intermediate	Intermediate
		The construction of the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section slip road connecting to the Fanling Bypass would be partially visible through the line of mature trees on the opposing side of the road. The slip road would be constructed on a viaduct elevated above the existing highway; the road would be approximately 10m wide. Tree clearance would be required on this section however this would occur on the other side of the Fanling Highway and would not affect views at this point. The existing mature trees and landform in the foreground would screen the majority of views of new structures. A section of 5m high noise barrier will run for 30m in front of Wo Hop Shek Village at ground level, this commences at the back of the pavement on the right hand side of the view and runs back along Wo Hing Road. Some tree clearance may be required to construct this section of barrier. An 80m long section of 5m high plus 3m inclined barrier will sit within the highway corridor and would not be visible from this point. Existing mature trees within the vicinity provide robust screening of the road corridor and will conceal the majority of view of the bypass during construction and operation. The proposed 30m noise barrier would be the most significant in views from this area. Taking into account that there are no similar structures to the barrier in the immediate vicinity, potential loss of existing trees and the overall height of 5m metres, it is considered that the compatibility would be poor during construction and operation. The noise barrier would be a highly visible new element within this environment as there would be no immediate screening available in addition to the potential loss of trees required to construct the barrier, in this case the magnitude of change in construction and operation is considered to be intermediate.
Y	FVP25	Residential Block, Wah Sum Estate	District	DP10	Partial	515	Large	Poor	Fair	Temporary [Medium]	Permanent	Reversible	Irreversible	Large	Intermediate
		The construction of the two slip road tails of the Fanling Bypass Eastern section would appear to the rear of the residential tower on the left hand side of the view, approximately 515m from this point. The slip road forms a fork which joins to the north and south carriageways of the existing highway. The south bound connecting slip road (furthest from view) would be predominantly screened by existing mature vegetation along the Fanling Highway corridor, a short section would be visible where the bypass viaduct would cross the MTRC East Rail Line and Ma Wat River channel before being concealed. The northbound connecting slip road (nearside of the view) would be visible for a greater distance as it crosses the highway corridor obliquely before turning and running parallel to the highway prior to joining it. Both slip roads are approximately 10m wide and elevated on viaducts within open areas therefore would be highly visible. To the right hand side of the northbound connecting slip road, as soon as it crosses the highway corridor, an 80m long section of 5m high with 3m inclined noise barrier will run along the Fanling Highway. The upper section of this barrier would be visible above existing tree canopies. 6no. individual sections of noise barrier (consisting of 5m high and 5m high plus 3m inclined barriers) are proposed to the east of Wo Hop Shek Village, parts of which would be visible before being screened by existing vegetation cover along the highway. In order to construct the above elements there would be tree losses within the woodland plantation associated with the Fanling Highway corridor therefore the overall tree cover in this view would be reduced and views of new and existing engineered structures would be increased. For this reason it is considered that the compatibility during construction would be poor. As the structures would be integrated with an existing major road corridor and given the sheer scale of this view the compatibility during operation is considered to be fair. The scale and visibility of the development during construction is likely to be very large and occupy a significant proportion of the view therefore the magnitude of change during construction is considered to be large. It is considered that the magnitude of change in operation would be intermediate as the project would be integrated into an existing major infrastructure corridor.

12D.14 Significance of Visual Impacts

Based on the sensitivity assessment of VSRs as described in Section 12D.12 and the magnitude of change they might experience described in Section 12D.13 the potential significance of the unmitigated visual impacts from DPs during the construction and operation are provided in Table 12D.13.1 using the matrix given in the methodology, and taking into account site visits to the area.

Residual impact significance is also determined in this Section, considering the mitigation measures described in full in Section 12D.9.

Photomontages demonstrating the potential visual impact of the proposed project before and after mitigation from certain VPs are illustrated on Figure 12.55.8a to 19b.

Table 12D.14.1 - Significance of visual impacts for DP 8, 9, 10 and 12

VSR Code (Code for other NDA)	Name	VSR Category (Strategic/ District/ Local)	VSR Type	VSR Sensitivity (High/ Medium/ Low)	Magnitude of Change (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible)		Impact Significance BEFORE Mitigation (Substantial/ Moderate/ Slight/ Insignificant)		Recommended Mitigation Measures		Residual Impact Significance UPON Mitigation (Substantial/ Moderate/ Slight/ Insignificant)
					Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation	Construction	Operation Day 1	Operation Year 10
FVP1	Po Shek Wu Road adjacent Tai Tau Lan.	Local	Pedestrian, Residential, Travelling.	Medium	Large	Large	Moderate/Substantial	Moderate/Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 16, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
FVP2	Residential tower, Choi Po Court, Choi Ying House.	District	Residential	High	Large	Large	Substantial	Substantial	2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 17	2, 7, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate
FVP3	Pedestrian footbridge, San Wan Road	Local	Pedestrian, travelling	Low	Large	Intermediate	Slight/Moderate	Slight/Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Slight	Slight	Insignificant
FVP6b	Highpoint above Fu Tei Au Tsuen, facing east.	District	Recreational.	Medium	Large	Intermediate	Moderate/substantial	Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 6, 9, 11, 17	Moderate	Sight	Insignificant
FVP8	Access road adjacent Ng Tung River, west of Wa Shan	Local	Recreational	Medium	Intermediate	Intermediate	Moderate	Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 17	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FVP9	Access track, Sheung Shui Wa Shan	Local	Residential, Occupational	Medium	Intermediate	Intermediate	Moderate	Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FVP10	Access road, south of Sheung Shui Wa Shan.	Local	Travelling	Low	Large	Large	Slight/Moderate	Slight/Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Slight	Slight	Insignificant
FVP13 (F20)	High Rise Residential buildings around Tin Ping Estate	District	Residential - High Rise	High	Large	Large	Substantial	Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 6, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
FVP14	Footbridge north of Wu Nga Lok Yeung	Local	Pedestrian, Recreational	Medium	Large	Large	Moderate/Substantial	Moderate/Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 6, 9, 11, 12, 14, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Insignificant
FVP15 (F4)	Siu Hang San Tsuen	Local	Residential - Low Rise	High	Intermediate	Small	Moderate	Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
FVP16 (F11)	Belair Monte & Regentville	District	Residential - High Rise	High	Large	Large	Substantial	Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 6, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
FVP17	Bridge over Ma Wat River, Sha Tau Road.	Local	Pedestrian, Recreational, Travelling	Medium	Large	Intermediate	Moderate/ Substantial	Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FVP18	Road Junction west of Ning Wai & Wing Ning Tsuen	Local	Residential, Pedestrian	High	Large	Intermediate	Substantial	Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
FVP19 (F9)	Agricultural plots, Ma Wat Wai.	Local	Recreational	Medium	Large	Intermediate	Moderate	Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
FVP20 (F8)	Access road, Shung Him Tong	Local	Residential - Low Rise	Medium	Large	Intermediate	Moderate/ Substantial	Moderate	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FVP21	Highpoint within On Lok Tsuen	Local	Residential	High	Large	Large	Substantial	Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight/ moderate
FVP22	Bus stop, Cyber Domaine residential estate	Local	Residential, pedestrian, travelling.	High	Large	Large	Substantial	Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate/ substantial	Moderate	Slight/ moderate
FVP23	Pedestrian footbridge, Kau Lung Hang San Wai	District	Residential, Pedestrian, travelling.	High	Large	Large	Substantial	Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Slight	Insignificant
FVP24	Wo Hing Road, Wo Hop Shek Village	Local	Residential, Occupational, pedestrian, travelling.	High	Intermediate	Intermediate	Moderate/ Substantial	Moderate/ Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
FVP25	Residential Block, Wah Sum Estate	District	Residential	High	Large	Intermediate	Substantial	Moderate/ Substantial	2, 4, 11, 16, 17	2, 9, 11, 12, 17	Moderate	Moderate	Slight

12D.15 Conclusion

12D.15.1 Landscape Character Areas

The Lowland Agricultural Landscape (FLCA5) affected by the Schedule 2 DPs is predicted to experience slight adverse impacts, prior to mitigation, in the construction and operational stage. Careful planning of the revised RODP means about 58 ha of land are designated to remain as agricultural land in KTN and FLN NDAs but in these areas referenced agricultural land will be lost. There is no direct compensation measure for the agricultural land lost but some mitigation can be achieved preservation and protection of any trees and where unavoidably affected, transplantation and compensatory planting will assist in reducing the level of impact very slightly. The LVNP is a key component of the Project with preservation and even enhancement of agricultural land which is intended to help alleviate impacts on agricultural land losses across the whole NDA. In the surrounding areas of the Project, 160 ha of land has been found potentially suitable for agricultural rehabilitation/re-site by PlanD with assistance from AFCD . The major cluster (34 ha) is found at Kwu Tung South. By year 10 of operation it is considered the residual impact would remain at a slight adverse level.

Moderate adverse impacts are predicted prior to mitigation works in relation to FLCA1 Natural Hillside Landscape, FLCA2 Rural and Urban Peripheral Village Landscape and FLCA7 Major Water Course Corridor Landscape as a result of the road construction projects. In terms of LCA1, this relates to the high sensitivity of the LCA. The overall area affected in this case is limited and it is considered compensatory woodland planting would quickly reduce this impact to an insignificant level. In terms of FLCA2 and FLCA7, the impacts are mainly generated due to the overall scale of the construction footprint and associated medium sensitivity. In both cases these character areas have undergone development in the past and have capacity to accept a certain level of development. Through mitigation works, in particularly compensatory woodland planting, watercourse mitigation and minimising the need to alter topography, it is considered these impacts can be reduced to insignificant by year 10 of operation.

Slight adverse impacts are predicted in relation to FLCA 3 Urban Development Landscape, FLCA 4 Industrial Landscape and FLCA 6 Major Transportation Corridor Landscape at the construction stage prior to mitigation. The proposed works are considered to have a good compatiblity with these LCAs, therefore would assimilate very quickly during operation. In all cases any adverse impacts can be mitigated to slight or insignificant levels by operation day 1. All impacts would be insignificant by operation year 10 through implementation of tree protection measures, tree transplantation and compensation planting.

12D.15.2 Landscape Resources

In summary, prior to mitigation, substantial adverse impacts have been predicted in the construction stage for FLR 1.4 Ma Wat River. This is as a result of the major excavations required for the channel realignment (approximately 600m in length) to accommodate the route of the Fanling Bypass. As the LR would be replaced albeit in a different alignment, the impact would reduce to moderate adverse in operation without any mitigation. It is considered through the application of mitigation measures in the construction stage including minimising the requirement for topographical changes, enhancement planting along embankment, protecting and preserving exising trees, transplanting trees where feasible together with replacement of the channel to match the existing that this impact can be reduced to slight by operation day 1. Following the establishment of transplanted and compensatory planting by year 10 of operation, these impacts would have reduced to insignificant.

The Natural Stream at Siu Hang San Tsuen (FLR-2.4) will suffer a small change due to the Project (where it flows under the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section) due to the high sensitivity, a moderate adverse impact is predicted prior to mitigation in construction and operation. The affected stream at Siu Hang San Tsuen, has largely been protected by changes to the proposed Schedule 3 boundary during the planning of the revised RODP with much of this stream avoided. However the stretch of this stream within the DP10 boundary would be located underneath the road viaduct. To the south of the viaduct the stream flows through the area D1-3, zoned as Open Space, prior to joining Ng Tung River. In this Open Space Zone a 10m buffer is proposed in which natural vegetation will be retained and enhanced. Human activities will be limited in order to avoid direct impacts to the stream bed and to minimise potential indirect impacts to the stream and riparian corridor. At detailed design, in order to avoid impacts to the stream, the design of the viaduct should follow guidelines such as ETWB Technical Circular (Works) No. 5/2005 Protection of natural streams/rivers from adverse impacts arising from construction works as well as Building Department (BD) Practice Note for Authorized Persons and Registered Structural Engineers 295: Protection of natural streams/rivers from adverse impacts arising from construction works. This will ensure that no viaduct footings or other structures are placed in the stream; in this case the impact is considered to reduce to slight at construction, becoming insignificant by day 1 and year 10 of operation.

Planning of the revised RODP has taken care to place much of the Mitigation Wetland in FLN NDA (FLR-4.2) that falls within the revised RODP on land for ‘Open Space’. The main impacts on this resource are as a result of the Schedule 3 works however moderate adverse impacts in construction and operation, prior to mitigation, are predicted as a result of the construction of the Fanling Bypass Western Section. Whilst the overall area affected is relatively small (1.59ha), this is a highly sensitive and uncommon resource. To address this impact mitigation is provided in the form of the LVNP which will be managed and the land there, including marsh and wetland areas, enhanced, with a slightly increase in wetland areas. Taking into account the LVNP enhancement and smaller level of impact as a result of the Schedule 2 work, the residual impact significance at construction and operation day 1 is considered to reduce to slight, and by year 10 when wetland and marshes in the LVNP mature, the residual impact will insignificant.

Although a relatively small area of Cham Shan and Wa Shan Hillside Woodland (FLR-6.2) and Hillside Woodland at Lung Shan and Wa Mei Shan (FLR-6.4) is affected by the construction of the Fanling Bypass, this LR has a high sensitivity and tree felling together with disturbance of natural topography is considered to generate moderate adverse impacts in construction and operation prior to mitigation. In this case, minimising the topographical change within the LR will assist in reducing the overall impact combined with tree preservation, tree transplantation and woodland compensation planting. Moderate adverse impacts would still remain in the construction stages post mitigation, however given the small areas affected planting measures would quickly address the impact reducing it to insignificant by year 10 of operation.

A number of agricultural landscape resources are predicted to experience moderate adverse impacts prior to mitigation in the construction and operational stage. These are FLR9.5 Agricultural Land at Sheung Shui Wa Shan, 9.6 Agricultural Land in Wu Nga Lok Yueng, Siu Hang San Tsuen, Siu Hang Tsuen and Lung Yeuk Tau and 9.7 Agricultural Land in South of Sha Tau Kok Road. Whilst there is no direct compensation for the agricultural land lost, direct mitigation includes the possible preservation and protection of any trees in such LRs and where unavoidably affected, transplantation and compensatory planting will assist in reducing the level of impact very slightly. The LVNP is a key component of the Project with preservation and even enhancement of agricultural land which is intended to help alleviate impacts on agricultural land losses across the whole NDA. In addition, this broad agricultural land category (LR9) encompasses both active and abandoned agricultural land including orchard areas. According to a further review and site inspection in December 2012/January 2013 by PlanD with assistance from AFCD, the amount of active agricultural land affected by the Project in FLN NDA is approximately 24 ha. According to the AFCD Annual Report 2011-2012, currently, there are 4,071 ha of abandoned agricultural land in Hong Kong and 734 ha of active agricultural farmland and as such, the affected agricultural land represents a small percentage of active agriculture land in Hong Kong. In the surrounding areas of the Project, 160 ha of land have been found potentially suitable for agricultural rehabilitation/re-site in the above mentioned site inspection. The major cluster (34 ha) is found at Kwu Tung South. Given all these considerations, the significance of impact on agricultural land in these areas will remain the same at construction and operation day 1, but by year 10 will have dropped to slight.

Moderate adverse impacts in construction and operation prior to mitigation are predicted in relation to FLR 7.3 Hung Kiu San Tsuen Lowland Woodland, FLR 7.7 Lowland Woodland near Tai Tau Leng. These impacts are relate to the loss of lowland woodland resources along the alignments of the proposed Fanling Bypass and Po Shek Wu Interchange. The level of impact is considered to reduce to slight by day 1 and insignificant by year 10 as landscape planting works would provide some compensation and through woodland compensation.

Moderate adverse impacts during construction prior to mitigation are predicted in relation to FLR12.12 Rural Development Area in Long Valley, Yin Kong and Hak Ka Wai and FLR 14.3 Fanling Highway. Given the previously developed nature of 12.12 and existing highway function of 14.3, the proposed works are considered to have fair/good compatibility. The initial impacts would be generated due to the large scale of the construction works. In operation it is considered that the impacts would drop to insignificant levels due to the good compatibility of the DPs with the recieving landscape. In terms of mitigation works, minimisation of topographical change, tree transplanting and compensatory planting is predicted to reduce the moderate adverse impact at the construction stage to slight in relation to the both LRs and insignificant by operation day 1.

Slight adverse impacts prior to mitigation are predicted in relation to FLR 1.1 Ng Tung River (Fanling District), 8.3 Shrubland/Grassland Mosaic at Cham Shan and Wa Shan, 9.2 Fu Tei Au Agricultural Land, 11.2 Sheung Shui Urban Area, 11.3 Fanling Urban Area, 12.5 Wa Shan Rural Development Area, 12.6 Lung Yeuk Tau Rural Development Area, 12.7 Rural Development Area at Wo Hop Shek and Lung Shan, 12.8 Rural Development at Ma Shi Po, 12.13 Rural Development Area North of Hong Kong Golf Club, 13.1 Sheung Shui Industrial/Open Storage Area, 13.2 Fanling Industrial Area and 14.2 Sha Tau Kok Road (Lung Yeuk Tau). These impacts principally relate to loss of associated tree cover, large scale construction footprint and in the case of FLR 1.1 and 14.2 excavation works associated with the construction of the Fanling Bypass. It is considered that these impacts can be reduced to slight or insignificant levels at the construction stage through tree protection, transplantation, compensatory planting mitigation measures combined with minimising topographical changes. By year 10 all impacts would be reduce to insignficant levels.

It is considered that all the remaining adverse impacts on LRs could be mitigated to insignificant levels at the construction and operational stage through mitigation works, as these remaining resources fall either within industrial or open storage areas where the works would have a good compatibility with the receiving landscape.

12D.15.1 Visual Impact

In comparison to the level of visual impact experienced by VSRs in KTN associated with the DP Package A, the visual impacts in KTN are generally less severe. This is as a result of several factors. In terms of high sensitivity residential VSRs, in KTN these are generally at lower levels (2-3 storey village type housing) with less extensive views of the proposed development or in high rise residential towers with a more strategic overview of the development. In the latter case, these broad panoramic views encompass a huge area whereby the proposed development works would only form a small component. The same is true in relation to high sensitivity recreational views from local prominences such as Ki Lun Shan (KVP2) in that the development forms a very small part of a very large landscape view. The proposed road works are also mainly constructed at-grade which results in them being less conspicuous in the landscape and provides for easy integration of visual mitigation measures such as screen planting, vertical green or road greening.

In FLN, the proposed road works are located in or adjacent to areas of dense population within high rise residential towers whereby the visibility of the works is less practical to mitigate. The works for DP 8, 9, 10 also involve construction of large scale viaducts, noise barriers, noise enclosures, bridges and river channel realignments. Subsequently a higher level of residual impacts is generated.

In summary, the visual impact assessment determined that VSRs in the vicinity of FVP2 Residential tower, Choi Po Court, Choi Ying House, FVP13 High rise residential buildings around Tin Ping Estate, FVP16 Belair Monte & Regentville, FVP18 Road Junction west of Ning Wai & Wing Ning Tsuen, FVP21 Highpoint within On Lok Tsuen, FVP22 Bus stop, Cyber Domaine residential estate, FVP23 Pedestrian footbridge, Kau Lung Hang San Wai and FVP25 Residential Block, Wah Sum Estate have substantial visual impact prior mitigation. In all cases these are residential VSRs with elevated panoramic views over the works areas of for the road schemes (DP8, 9 and 10). Given these elevated vantage points will experience unobstructed view of the construction works, it is not possible to fully mitigate the visibility of the construction works therefore these impacts drop to and remain at a moderate adverse level during the construction after implementing mitigation measures. It is considered through road greening and screen planting that the impact can be further reduced to slight levels by year 10 of operation where these planting works will have fully established and helped to assimilate the works into the landscape. In the case of FVP21 and FVP22 slight/moderate impacts are predicted at year 10 of operation due to the visibility of the Fanling Bypass including new noise barriers remaining highly visible even with mitigation.

Moderate/ substantial impacts have been predicted to VSRs in the vicinity of FVP1 Po Shek Wu Road adjacent Tai Tau Lan, FVP6b Highpoint above Fu Tei Au Tsuen, facing east, FVP14 Footbridge north of Wu Nga Lok Yeung, FVP17 Bridge over Ma Wat River, Sha Tau Road, FVP20 Access road, Shung Him Tong and FVP24 Wo Hing Road, Wo Hop Shek Village. Generally these VSRs relate to non residential views where the development will be a large component of the future view. Due to scale of the works and proximity of these views, a moderate adverse residual impact during the construction works after mitigation is predicted. It is considered in all cases this can be reduced to slight or insignificant levels by year 10 of opereration.

Moderate impacts have been predicted to VSRs in the vicinity of FVP8 Access road adjacent Ng Tung River, west of Wa Shan and FVP 9 Access track, Sheung Shui Wa Shan, FVP15 Siu Hang San Tsuen and FVP19 Agricultural plots, Ma Wat Wai at the construction stage before mitigation. The development will be a large component of the future view. Due to scale of the works and proximity of these views, a moderate adverse residual impact during the construction works after mitigation is predicted. It is considered in all cases this can be reduced to insignificant levels by year 10 of opereration through road greening and screen planting measures.

Slight/ moderate impacts are predicted in relation to VSRs in the vicinity of FVP3 Pedestrian footbridge, San Wan Road and FVP10 Access road, south of Sheung Shui Wa Shan. In both cases these are pedestrian level views where the development will be major component of the view. It is considered in all cases this can be reduced to insignificant levels by year 10 of opereration through road greening and screen planting measures.

It is considered that all remaining VSRs could be mitigated to slight and insignificant at the construction stage through mitigation works.

12D.15.2 Cumulative impacts

Cumulative impacts are assessed for concurrent developments together with the wider NDA projects as follows.

12D.15.3 FLN & KTN NDA

The assessment of impacts in relation to LRs and LCAs in this section has considered the construction of the schedule 2 DPs in isolation so that it is possible to identify and quantify their specific influences and contributions to potential landscape and visual impacts within the wider NDA projects. In general the construction footprint of the schedule 2 DPs are significantly smaller than the schedule 3 components and the associated impacts on LRs and LCAs are also far smaller. When considered together the impact of the schedule 2 projects would not alter the outcome of the schedule 3 assessment as this has taken into the account the same LRs/LCAs within broadly the same study area. It is only on the periphery of the urban area where the schedule 2 DPs potentially exert additional impact on LRs and LCAs beyond the construction footprint of the schedule 3 works, in this case the Fanling Bypass and Po Shek Wu Interchange works. In this case the additional impact, providing mitigation measures are implemented, would prove to be insignificant.

In terms of visual impact, the proposed DPs principally exert negative impacts from VSRs experiencing a panoramic view over the development; in the future this will include the extensive and large scale NDA development. It is considered that, as the road will be seen in the context of the new urban development, it would become more visually acceptable and potential reduce the level of residual impact.

12D.15.4 Agreement No. CE42/2006(TP) Planning Study on Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Cross-boundary Control Point and its Associated Connecting Roads in Hong Kong – Feasibility Study.

A new Boundary Control Point (BCP) is proposed to be constructed at Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai together with its connecting roads and other associated works. These works involve a tunnel portal which will appear on the Lung Shan hillside east of the Fanling Highway. The Fanling Bypass Eastern works will integrate with these works as these join the Bypass in the same vicinity. It is considered that the DP10 works are considerably smaller than the BCP works and will be far less visually dominant There will be a significant intrusion of new road into the open valley landscape which will have a far greater operational footprint. In this case, this case there may be a marginal increase in the cumulative impact from high sensitivity VSRs with a view of this area.

12D.15.5 Agreement No. CE53/2008(CE) Planning and Engineering Study on Development of Lok Ma Chau Loop - Investigation

The LMC Loop eastern connection road lies within the study area of KTN NDA; this will link to DP 4 (KTN NDA Road D1 to D5) distributor road south of Ma Tso Lung. This project is remote from the DPs within this assessment; there would be no cumulative impacts.

12D.15.6 Widening of Tolo Highway/ Fanling Highway between Island House Interchange and Fanling (Stage 2)

This project is the vicinity of the Po Shek Wu Interchange improvement works (DP8). The majority of the DP8 works are offline from the main highway, it is considered that only if the projects are run concurrently that VSRs experiencing views of both of the project would experience potentially worse visual impacts during the construction.

12D.15.7 Construction of cycle tracks and the associated supporting facilities from Sha Po Tsuen to Shek Sheung River.

This project is remote from the DPs within this assessment; there would be no cumulative impacts.

12D.15.8 Site Formation and Associated Infrastructural Works for Development of Columbarium, Crematorium and Related Facilities at Sandy Ridge Cemetery.

The Sandy Ridge site is located to the north of the two NDA sites, to the east of the NG Tung River and adjacent to Lo Wu MTR station at the border with Shenzhen. This project is remote from these DPs and there would be no cumulative impact.

12D.15.9 Overall conclusion

Landscape and visual mitigation works in relation to these DPs during the construction stage rely heavily on the minimisation of the footprint of the works area, avoidance of significant topographical changes together with the retention, protection and compensatory planting of trees / vegetation. These measures if deployed have the capacity to reduce, in most cases, the level of residual impact experienced by the VSRs, LRs and LCAs at the construction stage.

It is not possible to fully mitigate all impacts in relation to loss of mature woodland or tree planting, including the visual amenity/ screening they provide in the construction period and early operational stages, mainly as long periods of time are required to sufficiently compensate for the associated impacts. Providing compensatory measures are applied, in combination with transplantation of existing trees (which can help to accelerate the compensation period), the impacts to VSRs and LRs affected by these DPs can be reduced to slight or insignificant levels. Road greening measures such as use of climbing plants and verge planting help to break up the uniformity of new road formation and associated structures (such as footbridges), when used in combination with wider screening measures they will help to reduce the visual impacts in the early operational stages until tree screens have established and matured.

On review of the likely residual impacts and possibility to reduce all to slight or insignificant level by operational year 10, it is considered that DPs 8, 9, 10 and 12 would be acceptable in terms of landscape and visual impacts.

12D.15.10 Schedule 2 Designated Projects Overall conclusion

The following section provides the overall conclusion of the LVIA for Schedule 2 DPs at and associated with KTN and FLN NDAs.

In summary, the principal landscape character areas and resources that will be affected by the construction and operational phases of the scheme are rural and urban peripheral villages, hillside landscapes (including woodland) and agricultural land. Generally they experience substantial to moderate substantial adverse impacts as a result of road construction or the site of the FLN and KTN Flushing Water Service Reservoirs. In these cases, the level of residual impact significance remain at a moderate level until operational year 10 as direct compensation for the related LCAs/LRs cannot be achieved.

In addition, agricultural landscape resources cannot be direct compensated of which will be inevitably lost in the development. Agricultural land is easy to re-create given the right environment and not rare in the New Territories. According to the AFCD Annual Report 2011-2012, currently, there are 4,071 ha of abandoned agricultural land in Hong Kong and 734 ha of active agricultural farmland, the agricultural land affected by the Schedule 2 DPs only represents a small percentage of active agriculture land in Hong Kong. In view of medium sensitivity of this LR, the impact significant is considered moderate or lower. The residual impact to this LR remains unchanged as there is no direct mitigation measures to compensate the lost. Other measures, including retaining about 48 ha of land zoned agriculture in KTN and FLN NDAs, setting up of LVNP and preserving and transplanting trees in the concerned LR would alleviate the impacts slightly.

Most of the landscape impacts can be reduced to slight and insignificant after the implementation and full establishment of mitigation measures. After all, the residual impacts are considered to be acceptable. Given the proposed developments are located within in an existing rural area, it is inevitable that landscape and visual impacts caused by such major development cannot be fully reduced and remain at a certain level at some locations even after implementation of all possible mitigation measures, including minimising topographical change, detailed design of the engineered structures to ensure compatibility of the proposed development with the existing surroundings, tree protection, preservation and transplantation as well as compensatory planting, woodland compensatory planting, screen planting to buffer structures from views, decorative hoarding to screen undesirable views of work sites, light control within construction sites and at operation to reduce light glare that could potentially cause visual disturbance to VSRs at night time, provision for green roofs and vertical greening to soften hard surfaces on built structures in sight.

It is therefore anticipated that the overall residual landscape and visual impacts from the development of the schedule 2 DPs forming the key infrastructure component of the NDAs are considered acceptable with mitigation measures.

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^([1]) CEDD/ other government departments will be responsible for funding except where sites are tendered out to private investors, when these investors will be responsible for the funding.

^([2]) The Contractor will be responsible for landscaping during the agreed establishment and maintenance period. Other designated maintenance agents to take up maintenance of landscaping after end of agreed period.

^([3]) AFCD are suggested as the management department for specific woodland compensatory planting as detailed in the Chapter 13 of the EIA Report.