10 Landscape and Visual Impacts

10.1 Introduction

10.1.1 The LVIA study will investigate those landscape and visual impacts and propose the appropriate mitigation measures within the intention that all works recommended by the Road Improvement Works (RIW) would be environmentally acceptable and cost effective. The residual impacts, if any, would be confined with the allowable limits. The LVIA study was carried out for the following RIW:

Ÿ Sau Mau Ping Road;

Ÿ J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road

Ÿ New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road

10.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards and Guidelines

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

Ÿ Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap.499.S.16) and the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process (EIAO TM), particularly Annexes 3,10,11 and 18;

Ÿ Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance Guidance Note 8/2010;

Ÿ Town Planning Board Guideline No. 41 – Guideline on submissions of Visual Impact Assessment for Planning Applications to the Town Planning Board;

Ÿ Town Planning Ordinance (Cap 131);

Ÿ Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap 96);

Ÿ Country Park Ordinance (Cap 208);

Ÿ Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance (Cap 187);

Ÿ Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines Chapters 4, 10 and 11;

Ÿ AFCD Nature Conservation Practice Note No.2 - Measurement of Diameter at Breast Height (DBH);

Ÿ AFCD Nature Conservation Practice Note No.3 – The Use of Plant Names;

Ÿ DEVB TCW No. 3/2012 - Site Coverage of Greenery for Government Building Projects;

Ÿ DEVB TCW No. 2/2013 - Greening on Footbridges and Flyovers;

Ÿ ETWB TC No. 23/93 – Control of Visual Impact of Slopes;

Ÿ ETWB TC No. 12/2000 – Improvement to the Appearance of Slopes in Connection with ET WBTC 23/93;

Ÿ ETWB TC No. 7/2002 – Tree Planting in Public Works;

Ÿ DEVB TC No. 6/2015 - Maintenance of Vegetation and Hard Landscape Features;

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

Ÿ DEVB TCW No. 7/2015- Tree Preservation;

Ÿ ETWB TCW No. 13/2003A - Guidelines and Procedures for Environmental Impact Assessment of Government Projects and Proposals Planning for Provision of Noise Barriers;

Ÿ ETWB TCW No. 34/2003 – Community Involvement in Greening Works;

Ÿ ETWB TCW No. 5/2005 - Protection of natural streams/rivers from adverse impacts arising from construction works;

Ÿ ETWB TCW 8/2005 - Aesthetic Design of Ancillary Buildings in Engineering Projects;

Ÿ GEO publication No. 1/2011 - Technical Guidelines on Landscape Treatment for Slopes;

Ÿ GEO Publication (1999) – Use of Vegetation as Surface Protection on Slopes;

Ÿ GEO Publication No. 6/2007 - Updating of GEO Publication no. 1/2000 - Technical Guidelines on Landscape Treatment and Bio-engineering for Manmade Slopes and Retaining Walls;

Ÿ Lands Administration Office Practice Note (LAN PN) No. 7/2007 - Tree Preservation and Tree Removal Application for Building Development in Private Projects;

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

Ÿ Government General Regulation 740 – setting out restrictions on the preservation and felling of trees in Hong Kong;

Ÿ WBTC No. 25/1993 - Control of Visual Impact of Slopes;

Ÿ WBTC No. 17/2000 - Improvement to the Appearance of Slopes;

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

Ÿ WBTC No. 36/2004 - Advisory Committee on the Appearance of Bridges and Associated Structures (ACABAS);

Ÿ DEVB TC(W) No. 2/2012 – Allocation of Space for Quality Greening on Roads

Ÿ Cyber Manual for Greening (GLTM of DEVB);

Ÿ Guidelines on Greening of Noise Barrier (2012), GLTM of DEVB; General Guidelines on Tree Pruning, GLTM of DEVB;

Ÿ Study on Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong;

Ÿ Layman’s guide to landscape treatment of slopes, CEDD;

Ÿ Landscape Character Map of Hong Kong (2005 Edition);

Ÿ The Register of Old and Valuable Trees – Hong Kong, maintained by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department;

Ÿ Study on green roof application in Hong Kong, (16/2/2007) ASCD;

Ÿ GLTM of DEVB - Skyrise Greenery - Website: http://www.greening.gov.hk/en/new_trend/benefit_of_skyrise.html

Ÿ Green Infrastructure, GLTM of DEVB - Website: http://www.greening.gov.hk/en/new_trend/green_infrastructure.html

Ÿ Measures on Tree Preservation, GLTM of DEVB - Website: http://www.greening.gov.hk/en/management/tree_m_and_m.html#tree_maintenance

Ÿ Guidelines on Tree Preservation during Development, GLTMS of DEVB-Website: http://www.trees.gov.hk/filemanager/content/attachments/Guidelines_on_Tree_Preservation_during_Development.pdf

Ÿ Guidelines on Tree Transplanting, GLTMS of DEVB-Website: http://www.trees.gov.hk/filemanager/content/attachments/Guidelines_on_Tree_Transplanting.pdf

Ÿ Restrictions on the preservation and felling of trees in Hong Kong are specified in Government General Regulation 740. The Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96) prohibits felling, cutting, burning or destroying of trees and growing plants in forests and plantations on government land. Its subsidiary regulations prohibit the picking, felling or possession of listed rare and protected plant species. The list of protected species in Hong Kong is defined in the Forestry Regulations, made under Section 3 of the Forests and Countryside Ordinance (Cap. 96).

Ÿ The Outline Zoning Plan gazette under the Town Planning Ordinance provides the statutory framework for land use development. Reference has been made and details are shown at item 10.4.

10.3 Assessment Methodology

General

10.3.1 The Landscape Impact Assessment Area for the landscape impact assessment includes areas within a 100 m distance from the site boundary of the RIW while the Visual Study Area for the visual impact assessment is defined by the visual envelope of the RIW. The landscape and visual impact study boundaries are shown in Figure 10.1, Figure 10.8 to Figure 10.10 respectively.

Landscape Impact Assessment

10.3.2 The assessment of landscape impacts has involved the following procedures.

Ÿ Identification of the baseline landscape resources (physical and cultural) and landscape characters found within the Landscape Impact Assessment Area. This is achieved by site visit and desktop study of topographical maps, information databases and photographs.

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

- quality of landscape characters/resources, whether the resource/character is common or rare,

- importance and rarity of special landscape elements, whether it is considered to be of local, regional, national or global importance

- the maturity of the resource

- the ability of the resource/character to accommodate change

- Significance of the change in local and regional context.

10.3.3 The sensitivity of each landscape feature and character area is classified as follows:

High:	Rare, important, mature landscape or landscape resource, sensitive to relatively small changes. High significance of the change in local and regional context.
Medium:	Landscape or landscape resource of moderately valued, semi- mature of the resource, reasonably tolerant to change. Moderate significance of the change in local and regional context.
Low:	Landscape or landscape resource, the nature of which is largely tolerant to change, insubstantial value, immature, insubstantial significance of the change in local and regional context.

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

Ÿ Assessment of the magnitude of landscape changes. The magnitude of change depends on a number of factors including:

- scale of development, the physical extent of the impact

- duration of impacts under construction and operational phases, time-scale of the impact

- compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape

- reversibility of change, permanent but potentially reversible, or permanent and irreversible

10.3.4 The magnitude of change is classified as follows:

Large:	The landscape or landscape resource would have experienced large scale of development, long duration of impacts, low compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape and irreversible of change.
Intermediate:	The landscape or landscape resource would have experienced moderate scale of development, reasonable duration of impacts, moderate compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape and potentially reversible of change.
Small:	The landscape or landscape resource would have experienced small scale of development, short duration of impacts, and high compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape and reversible of change.
Negligible:	The landscape or landscape resource would have no discernible change.

Ÿ Identification of potential landscape mitigation measures. These may take the form of adopting alternative designs or revisions to the basic engineering and architectural design to prevent and/or minimize adverse impacts; remedial measures such as colour and textural treatment of building features; and compensatory measures such as the implementation of landscape design measures to compensate for unavoidable adverse impacts and to attempt to generate potentially beneficial long term impacts. A programme for the mitigation measures is provided. The agencies responsible for the funding, implementation, management and maintenance of the mitigation measures are identified.

Ÿ Prediction of the significance of landscape impacts before and after the implementation of the mitigation measures. By synthesizing the magnitude of the various changes and the sensitivity of the various landscape resources it is possible to categorize impacts in a logical, well-reasoned and consistent fashion. Table 10.1 shows the rationale for dividing the degree of significance into four thresholds, namely insubstantial, slight, moderate, and substantial, depending on the combination of a negligible-small-intermediate-large magnitude of change and a low-medium-high degree of sensitivity of landscape resource /character.

Table 10.1 Relationship between Landscape Sensitivity and Impact Magnitude in Defining Impact Significance

Magnitude of change (Both Adverse and Beneficial Impact are assessed.)	Large	Moderate	Moderate / Substantial	Substantial
	Intermediate	Slight / Moderate	Moderate	Moderate / Substantial
	Small	Slight	Slight / Moderate	Moderate
	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
		Low	Medium	High
		Sensitivity of Landscape Resource and Landscape Character Area

Note: All impacts are Adverse unless otherwise noted with Beneficial.

10.3.5 The significance of landscape impacts is categorized as follows:

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

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

Visual Impact Assessment

10.3.6 The assessment of visual impacts has involved the following procedures.

Ÿ Identification of the Visual Envelopes during the construction and operational phases of the project. The visual envelope will be achieved by computer model where practical, as well as site visits and desktop study of topographic maps and photographs. Distance and other factors will be considered, to determine the zone of visual influence and the visibility of the Project from various locations. The Zone of Visual Influence /Visual Envelope is that area from which any part of the proposed Project can be fully visible, partly visible or non-visible; usually defined by natural ridgeline, man-made features, road infrastructures, etc.

10.3.7 The Visual Study Area for the VIA will be defined by the visual envelope of the RIW and the Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI) will be determined. The VIA will include:

Ÿ Identification of Visually Sensitive Receivers (VSRs) within the ZVI and estimation of relative numbers of VSRs, also indicate the types of VSRs;

Ÿ Assessment of the degree of sensitivity to change of the VSRs;

Ÿ Identification of potential sources of visual impacts;

Ÿ Assessment of the potential magnitude of change; and

Ÿ Prediction of significance of visual impacts before and after the implementation of mitigation measures

10.3.8 These various elements of the VIA are detailed below.

Ÿ Identification of the VSRs within the Visual Envelopes at construction and operational phases. These are the people who would reside within, work within, play within, or travel through, the ZVIs.

Ÿ Assessment of the degree of sensitivity to change of the VSRs. Factors considered include:

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

- other factors which are considered (as required by EIAO GN 8/2010) include the value and quality of existing views, the availability and amenity of alternative views, the duration or frequency of view, the estimated number of receiver population and the degree of visibility.

Identification of Visual Envelope and Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI)

10.3.9 The sensitivity of VSRs is classified as follows:

High:	The VSR is highly sensitive to any change in their viewing experience.
Medium:	The VSR is moderately sensitive to any change in their viewing experience.
Low:	The VSR is only slightly sensitive to any change in their viewing experience.

Ÿ Identification of relative numbers of VSRs. This is expressed in term of whether there are “many“, “medium” and “few” VSRs in any one category of VSR.

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

Ÿ Assessment of the potential magnitude of change. Factors considered include:

- compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape;

- duration of impacts under construction and operational phases;

- scale of development;

- reversibility of change;

- viewing distance; and

- potential blockage of view.

10.3.10 The magnitude of change is classified as follows:

Large:	The VSRs would suffer a major change in their viewing experience.
Intermediate:	The VSRs would suffer a moderate change in their viewing experience.
Small:	The VSRs would suffer a small change in their viewing experience.
Negligible:	The VSRs would suffer no discernible change in their viewing experience.

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

Ÿ Prediction of the significance of visual change before and after the implementation of the mitigation measures. By synthesizing the magnitude of the various visual change and the sensitivity of the VSRs, and the numbers of VSRs that are affected, it is possible to categories the degree of significance of the impacts in a logical, well-reasoned and consistent fashion. Table 10.2 shows the rationale for dividing the degree of significance into four thresholds, namely, insubstantial, slight, moderate and substantial, depending on the combination of a negligible-small-intermediate-large magnitude of change and a low-medium-high degree of sensitivity of VSRs. Consideration is also given to the relative numbers of affected VSRs in predicting the final impact significance - exceptionally low or high numbers of VSRs may change the result that might otherwise be concluded from Table 10.2.

Table 10.2 Relationship between Visual Receptor Sensitivity and Impact Magnitude in Defining Impact Significance

Magnitude of Change (Both Adverse and Beneficial Impact are assessed.)	Large	Moderate	Moderate / Substantial	Substantial
	Intermediate	Slight / Moderate	Moderate	Moderate / Substantial
	Small	Insubstantial / Slight	Slight / Moderate	Moderate
	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
		Low	Medium	High
		Sensitivity of Visual Sensitive Receivers (VSRs)

Note: All impacts are Adverse unless otherwise noted with Beneficial.

10.3.11 The significance of visual impacts is categorized as follows:

Substantial:	Adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause significant deterioration or improvement in existing visual quality.
Moderate:	Adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause a noticeable deterioration or improvement in existing visual quality.
Slight:	Adverse / beneficial impact where the proposal would cause a barely perceptible deterioration or improvement in existing visual quality.
Insubstantial:	No discernible change in the existing visual quality.

Ÿ The assessment describes any likely negative (adverse) or unavoidable residual visual impacts to VSRs. Residual impacts are those which remain post implementation of mitigation measures i.e. 10-15 years after commissioning of the development. The level of impact is derived from the magnitude of change which the development will cause to the existing visual resource and its ability to tolerate change, i.e. the quality and sensitivity of the view or landscape character / resource taking into account the beneficial effects of the proposed mitigation.

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

10.3.12 Funding, implementation, management and maintenance of the mitigation proposals will be resolved according to the principles in EIAO TM, ETWB TCW No. 29/2004, 6/2015 No. 2/2004 and DEVB TCW no. 2/2013. All mitigation proposals in this report are practical and achievable within the known parameters of funding, implementation, management and maintenance. The suggested agents for the funding and implementation (and subsequent management and maintenance, if applicable) are included in the report.

10.4 Review of Planning and Development Control Framework

10.4.1 The Study Area of Sau Mau Ping Road falls within “Green Belt”, “Government, Institution or Community”, “Open Space” and “Residential (Group A)” on the Kwun Tong (South) Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/K14S/20 gazetted on 21 August 2015. Also, within “Green Belt” and “Residential (Group A)” on the Kwun Tong (North) Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/K14N/14 gazetted on 26 June 2015.

10.4.2 The Study Area of J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road falls within “Green Belt” and “Residential (Group C)” on the Tseng Lan Shue Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/SK-TLS/8 gazetted on 24 March 2006. Also within “Green Belt”, “Residential (Group A)”, “Residential (Group B)” and “Government, Institution or Community” on the Ngau Tau Kok & Kowloon Bay Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/K13/28 gazetted on 11 April 2014.

10.4.3 The Study Area of New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road falls within “Green Belt”, “Residential (Group A)”, “Government, Institution or Community” and “ Open Space” on the Ngau Tau Kok & Kowloon Bay Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) No. S/K13/28 gazetted on 11 April 2014.

10.4.4 Review of Planning and Development Control Framework is summarized as below:

Proposed Works	Plan title/number	Land use zonings	Approximate area of the land use zones to be affected by the DP
Sau Mau Ping Road	Kwun Tong (South) Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K14S/20 (gazetted on 21 Aug 2015)	Green Belt	2250m^2
		Government, Institution or Community	Nil
		Open Space	Nil
		Residential (Group A)	3400m^2
	Kwun Tong (North) Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K14N/14 (gazetted on 26 Jun 2015)	Green Belt	Nil
		Residential (Group A)	Nil
J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road	Tseng Lan Shue Outline Zoning Plan No. S/SK-TLS/8	Green Belt	2450m^2
		Residential (Group C)	Nil
	Ngau Tau Kok & Kowloon Bay Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K13/28 (gazetted on 4 Nov 2014)	Green Belt	Nil
		Residential (Group A)	Nil
		Residential (Group B)	Nil
		Government, Institution or Community	Nil
New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road	Ngau Tau Kok & Kowloon Bay Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K13/28 (gazetted on 4 Nov 2014)	Green Belt	1400m^2
		Residential (Group A)	Nil
		Government, Institution or Community	1650m^2
		Open Space	400m^2

10.4.5 The junction of Sau Mau Ping Road / Lin Tak Road is currently overloaded. The situation would be worsened upon the intake of ARQ. To improve the situation, Tseung Kwan O Road slip road to Sau Mau Ping Road will be shifted southwards with associated slope works and retaining walls to cater for the proposed flyover. The impact mainly at the Green Belt and Residential (Group A) of OZP under Kwun Tong (South) Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K14S/20. They are all impact from slope area. Impact to the OZP is provided in Figure10.48.

10.4.6 The proposed work of Junction of Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and Junction of Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road includes improvement works on Clear Water Bay Road and detouring right-turn movement from On Sau Road northbound onto Clear Water Bay Road eastbound by construction of a new U-turn facility. Green Belt of Tseng Lan Shue Outline Zoning Plan No. S/SK-TLS/8 will be affected with slope work and removing of vegetation on the slope. Impact to the OZP is provided in Figure10.47.

10.4.7 The proposed work of Junction of New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road is to widen a section of 130m long of the existing New Clear Water Bay Road westbound carriageway opposite to Shun Lee Estate from one lane to two lanes, and to lengthen the merging lane from Shun Lee Tsuen Road slip road within the area of an existing slope. Slope works and retaining walls are required for the lengthened slip road. Green Belt, Government, Institution a Community and Open Space under Ngau Tau Kok & Kowloon Bay Outline Zoning Plan No. S/K13/28 will be affected. They are all slope works along with semi-natural dense hillside vegetation. Impact to the OZP is provided in Figure10.46.

10.4.8 The affected areas are mainly slope works, including loss of open space shown above. Open space under No. S/K13/28 including vegetated man made slope relating to New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road adjacent to the Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park. RIW only affects the vegetation on the man-made slope within the Open Space while the entire sport centre and park are preserved and retained.

10.4.9 Design and conservation intention is illustrated in Section 3.2 (Consideration of Alternative Development Options).

10.4.10 Photomontages for the VSRs for the existing conditions, Day 1 without Mitigation Measure, Day 1 with Mitigation Measure and 10 Years with Mitigation measures are provided in Figure 10.27 – 10.39 to illustrate the future outlook of the area.

Proposed Works	VSR Viewpoints
Sau Mau Ping Road	VP1, VP2, VP 3, VP 4
J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road	VP 5, VP 6, VP 7, VP 8
New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road	VP 9, VP 10, VP 11

10.5 Baseline Study

10.5.1 Landscape baseline study comprise the identification and evaluation of the sensitivity of Landscape Resources (LRs) and Landscape Character Areas (LCAs) within the landscape impact assessment study boundary of 100m from the site boundaries of the RIW.

Landscape Issues

10.5.2 Landscape impact assessment study boundaries are 100m from the RIW boundaries; a system shall be derived for judging landscape significance as required under the TM. The sensitivity of the landscape framework and its ability to accommodate change shall be particularly focused on. The degree of compatibility of the RIW with the existing physical aspects of the site, including topography and mature vegetation, human aspects of the site such as developments and infrastructure, and the key landscape issue of the existing site and planned landscape setting will be identified. LRs within the assessment areas will be described, appraised, analyzed and evaluated.

10.5.3 Three study boundaries are formed based on the RIW:

Ÿ Sau Mau Ping Road;

Ÿ J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road

Ÿ New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road

10.5.4 The landscape impact assessment shall evaluate the potential landscape impact so as to illustrate the significance of such impact arising from the proposed RIW. Clear mapping of the baseline landscape resources and landscape character areas will be aroused.

Visual Issues

10.5.5 Important visual issues for the RIW include potential changes to the existing views, and changes to visual amenity and visual character. These changes in views may be the result of either introducing new man-made elements into the landscape (e.g. introduction of construction equipment and features of the project itself) or by changes to existing visual resources (e.g. removal of existing vegetation).

10.6 Landscape Resources and Landscape Character Areas

Landscape Baseline

10.6.1 According to the EIA Study Brief, the assessment area for landscape impact assessment shall include areas within 100m distance of the boundary and of all works areas. Preliminary baseline review of existing landscape resources are described as below. Key LRs within 100m Landscape Study Area have been identified and shown in Figures 10.1 to Figure 10.3 and photo of these LRs shown in Figure 10.4a to Figure 10.4c.

Physical Landscape Resources

Valley

10.6.2 Clear Water Bay Road goes along Kowloon Peak (603 mPD) and valley between Tai Sheung Tok (a hill reaching a height of 419 mPD). Semi- natural dense hillside vegetation grows extensively and continuously along both sides of the road within the majority of study area. Meanwhile, engineered slope with semi-natural dense hillside vegetation is located along the western end of the study area.

10.6.3 The hillside woodlands, together with the grassland/shrub areas, are part of the Tai Sheung Tok creating a green backdrop to the valley, and it’s an important visual amenity along the ridgeline at Kwun Tong north area. Tree species includes Acacia mangium, Mallotus paniculatus, Cinnamonum camphora, Ficus microcarpa, Litsea glutinosa and Sterculia lanceolata. Most of the trees are mature with heights ranging from approximately 6 – 15m; crown spread 5 – 12m; trunk diameters 120-250mm. Most trees are generally in poor form and health conditions.

Existing Trees

10.6.4 It is estimated that approximately 5,000 nos. of trees are found within the study area of RIW. Please refer to Group Tree Survey Plan on Figure10.49 to Figure 10.51 and Figure 10.52 to Figure 10.54 shows tree group overlayed with LR. The trees surveyed are generally with poor form, fair health, poor structure and low amenity value. Trees have low anticipated survival rate after transplanting as they are all growing on slopes.

10.6.5 A total of approximately 5,000 numbers of trees including 103 species have been surveyed. Broad Brush Tree Survey Assessment Schedule is provided at Appendix 10.1.

10.6.6 Four numbers of Aquilaria sinensis are recorded, which are under protection by Cap 586 (The Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance). Also they are on the list of rare and precious plants of Hong Kong and China Plant Red Data Book. They have been listed as a Wild Plant under State Protection (Category II) in China owing to the decline in its distribution.

10.6.7 Two of the Aquilaria sinensis will be in conflict with the proposed road and is proposed to be transplanted, detail vegetation survey will be carried out and transplanting methodology will be submitted to relevant government agencies for review and approval.

10.6.8 Apart from Aquilaria sinensis, all trees have no special conservation status. Acacia confusa is the major species with approximately 1,200 nos. of trees being surveyed. Hillside woodland and semi-natural dense hillside vegetation of Tai Sheung Tok is located next to the Clear Water Bay Road. An extensive and continuous area of this natural hillside woodland is at the summit of the mountain as well as on the north-eastern side of the quarry. Groups or more individual trees grow densely in this woodland area and the dominant species are native trees.

10.6.9 This hillside woodland is important in the landscape and visual context of the region and merits conservation and protection. Engineered slope along with semi-natural dense hillside vegetation and semi-natural dense hillside vegetation are mainly mature trees with heights ranging from approximately 6-15 m.

10.6.10 Impact on existing mature trees has been reviewed through design option in Section 3.

Urban landscape

10.6.11 Urban landscape, characterized by high-density residential buildings interwoven with minor feeder roads and other hard landscape areas also found at the study areas. Vegetation in this area is largely landscape planting with scattered amenity shrubs (e.g. Duranta erecta, Schefflera arboricola and Aglaia odorata) and medium-sized trees (e.g. Aleurites moluccana, Delonix regia and Lagerstroemia speciosa, Archontophoenix alexandrae, Bauhinia x blakeana, Livistona chinensis, with heights between 3-10m and trunk diameters ranging from 100-500 mm. They are mainly planted in small public green spaces, roadside planting and private gardens. Most trees are generally in fair form and health conditions with regular horticultural maintenance.

Landscape Resources (LRs)

10.6.12 The details of Baseline Landscape Resources which will be potentially affected by the RIW, together with their sensitivity are described in Table 10.3. The locations of baseline landscape resources are mapped in Figure 10.1 to Figure 10.3. Photo views illustrating the landscape resources within 100m Landscape Study Areas is illustrated in Figure 10.4a to Figure 10.4c.

Landscape Character Areas (LCAs)

10.6.13 Landscape character zones have been identified within 100m Landscape Study Areas in accordance with the Study on Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong. These are described below and illustrated in Figure 10.5 and Figure 10.6. Photo views illustrating the landscape character areas within the 100m Landscape Study Areas are illustrated in Figure 10.7 inclusive.

Table 10.3 Baseline of Landscape Resources (LRs) / Landscape Character Areas and Their Sensitivity

ID No.	Relevant Tree Group	LR/ LCA	Landscape Resources / Landscape Characters	Sensitivity
LR1		Major Transport Route
LR1.1	TG6	Clear Water Bay Road	Major road for traveling between Sai Kung and Kowloon, greening of central divider with major tree species of Melaleuca cajuputi subsp. cumingiana with heights approximately 9-14 m; crown spread 4-6 m; trunk diameters 250-450 mm usually need minimal maintenance and highly tolerant to change. Trees are generally in fair form and health conditions; amenity value is medium. The trees species are common. Therefore, their sensitivity is considered to be low.	Low
LR1.2	TG8	New Clear Water Bay Road	Major road for traveling between Choi Hung and Clear Water Bay Road, greening of central divider with major tree species of Melaleuca cajuputi subsp. cumingiana and Ficus virens with heights approximately 4-11 m; crown spread 3-8 m; trunk diameters 100-400 mm usually need minimal maintenance and highly tolerant to change. Undersized Aquilaria sinensis which protected under Cap 586 has been identified at this LR with trunk diameters 40mm, height around 3m, crown spread 1m. It is in fair condition. Proposed works will conflict with this protected tree and consider to transplant. Trees are generally in fair form and health conditions; amenity value is medium. The trees species are common and young. However, this LR is intolerant to change with protected species identified and considered to have high sensitivity.	High
LR1.3	TG13	Tseung Kwan O Road	Major road for traveling between Tseung Kwan O and Kowloon, greening of central divider with major tree species of Leucaena leucocephala with heights approximately 6-14 m; crown spread 2-8 m; trunk diameters 100-370 mm usually need minimal maintenance and highly tolerant to change. Trees are generally in poor form and health conditions; amenity value is low. The trees species are common and young. Therefore, their sensitivity is considered to be low.	Low
LR2		Hillside Woodland
LR2	Part of TG2, Part of TG5	Hillside Woodland	Woodland area with trees grows densely at hillside of part of the Anderson Road Quarry. This hillside woodland is important in the landscape and visual context of the Landscape Study Area and merits conservation and protection. Most of the trees are mature with heights ranging from approximately 6-10 m; crown spread 4-6 m; trunk diameters 120-250 mm. Dominant trees species include Acacia spp., Celtis sinensis, Cinnamomum spp, Schefflera heptaphylla, and Machilus spp. Aquilaria sinensis which protected under Cap 586 has been identified at this LR with trunk diameters 150mm, height around 7m, crown spread 5m. It is in fair condition. Also, Luofushan Joint-fir can be found which raising the conservation value of this LR. Most trees are generally in poor to fair form and health condition. This LR is intolerant to change with protected species identified and considered to have high sensitivity.	High
LR3		Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR3.1	TG1	Vegetation around Fei Ngo Shan Road	This LR located at lower area of Fei Ngo Shan, where some trees are relatively mature. The dominant planted tree species within these areas are ranging in heights from 4-16 m; crown spread 3-12 m, e.g. Acacia confuse and Litsea glutinosa etc. Aquilaria sinensis which protected under Cap 586 has been identified at this LR with trunk diameters 130mm, height around 8m, crown spread 5m. It is in poor form and structural condition. Another plant species of conservation importance, Luofushan Joint-fir, are also identified at this LR. It provides a series of green fingers often associated with the hills and elevated areas, providing visual relief and a green backdrop of Clear Water Bay Road. Vegetation is mostly in poor form and fair health condition. Amenity value is considered as low. This LR is intolerant to change. With protected species identified at this LR, sensitivity to change is considered as high.	High
LR3.2	TG3	Vegetation at North of Clear Water Bay Road	Hillside vegetation between Fei Wan Road and Clear Water Bay Road, which providing visual relief and a green backdrop to the rural development area. Tree species within these areas are ranging in heights from 4-16 m; crown spread 3-14 m; trunk diameter 100-500. Such as Acacia spp, Machilus spp. and Litsea glutinosa, which are common specie planted at hillside. This LR is moderate tolerant to change. It is considered as medium sensitivity.	Medium
LR3.3	Part of TG4, Part of TG5, Part of TG11, TG12	Vegetation at South of Clear Water Bay Road and Around New Clear Water Bay Road	Hillside vegetation extends from the hillside woodland provides a series of green fingers to the Quarry landscape. Also, this LR included hillside vegetation around Clear Water Bay Road, giving the green backdrop to the urban development area. Tree species within this area are common species such as Acacia spp., and Mallotus spp. Vegetation is mostly in fair to poor form and health condition. Tree species within this area are ranging in height from 2-16 m; crown spread 2-8 m; trunk diameter 100-700mm. Apart from that, protected species, like undersize or seeding Aquilaria sinensis and Silver-Back Artocarpus can be identified. This LR is intolerant to change. With protected species identified at this LR, sensitivity to change is considered as high.	High
LR3.4	TG7	Vegetation of Merging Lane next to Shun Lee Estate	Open space with intensive greening next to Shun Lee Estate and road amenity with normal maintenance is located merging line of New Clear Water Bay Road. Tree species within this area are ranging in height from 2-19 m; crown spread 2-7 m; trunk diameter 120-470mm. Such as Hyophorbe lagenicaulis and Roystonea regia. This LR is high tolerant to change. It is considered as low sensitivity.	Low
LR3.5	TG15	Vegetation of Lam Tin Park	Greening and reinstating of closed Ma Yau Tong Central Landfill, Lam Tin Park is important amenity to the urban development area nearby. Tree species within this area are ranging in height from 4-16 m; crown spread 3-14 m; trunk diameter 100-600mm. Such as Acacia confuse and Mallotus paniculatus. Providing green fingers associated with elevated area, such as Ng Kwai Shan. This LR is moderate tolerant to change. It is considered as low sensitivity.	Low
LR3.6	Part of TG18	Vegetation of Ma Yau Tong West Sitting-Out Area	Greening and reinstating of closed Ma Yau Tong West Landfill, Its hillside vegetation providing green buffer to the urban development area nearby, such as Sau Mau Ping or Tsui Ping Estate. Tree species within this area are ranging in height from 4-13 m; crown spread 3-10 m; trunk diameter 100-400mm. Such as Schefflera heptaphylla and Mallotus paniculatus. This LR is tolerant to change. It is considered as low sensitivity.	Low
LR4		Urban Development Area
LR4	Part of TG4, Part of TG10, Part of TG11, TG16, Part of TG18, TG19	Urban Development Area	This resource refers to urbanized areas which are intensively developed and characterized by high-density residential buildings interwoven with minor feeder roads and other hard surface areas. Choi Wan Estate, Choi Fai Estate, Disciplined Services Quarters, Shun On Estate, Shun Lee Estate, Tsui Ping Estate, Po Tat Estate, Sau Mau Ping South Estate, Hing Tin Estate and Hong Wah Court. There are also schools (e.g. Kwun Tong Government Secondary School, United Christian College (Kowloon East), Good Hope School and St. Edward's Catholic Primary School, etc), shopping centres and community centres, small parks, amenity areas, buffer strips and sitting out areas associated with these residential areas. Vegetation in this LR is residential landscape planting with scattered amenity shrubs (e.g. Duranta erecta, Schefflera arboricola and Aglaia odorata) and medium-sized trees (e.g. Aleurites moluccana, Delonix regia and Lagerstroemia speciosa, Archontophoenix alexandrae, Bauhinia x blakeana, Livistona chinensis, with heights between 6m-10m, crown spread 2-8m and trunk diameters ranging from 20 mm-60 mm) in small public green spaces and roadside planting. Nevertheless, there is one Old and Valuable Tree (OVT) (ref. no. LCSD HD/KT/1, an Albizia julibrissin with DBH 1160 mm and crown spread 2900 mm; located at the garden near the Sau Ming Road, Sau Wo House and Sau Yat House) identified outside the 100 m landscape study boundary of Sau Mau Ping Road. It is considered there is no impact on the OVT. Most trees are generally in fair form and health conditions with horticultural maintenance. Overall, this LR has limited landscape value and a high capacity to accommodate change. Its sensitivity is therefore considered to be low.	Low
LR5		Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park
LR5	Part of TG10	Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park	Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park is one of the popular and ideal recreation and sports venues. With a total area of 3.3 ha, it offers a wide range of leisure and recreational facilities to the local residents; 3 indoor golf driving bays on the Ground Floor of the Centre; which offers golf related programmes each month for public participation. Major tree species found include Archontophoenix alexandrae, Dypsis lutescens, Ficus spp., Lagerstroemia speciosa and Bauhinia spp. in heights between 4m-13m; crown spread 2m-12m; trunk diameter 100-550. Most trees are generally in fair form and fair health condition with horticultural maintenance. The landscape quality of this resource is considered as high accommodate change. The overall sensitivity of this resource is considered as low.	Low
LR6		Quarry
LR6	Part of TG5	Quarry	This LR located at the junction of On Sau Road and New Clear Water Bay Road incorporates a pond area that is part of the quarry of ARQ, as well as the buildings, tracks and equipment associated with the operation of the quarry. Given that these areas are intensively disturbed and only limited vegetation is present. Overall this LR is considered to be reasonably tolerant to change and hence has a low sensitivity.	Low
LR7		Rural Development Area
LR7	Part of TG2	Rural Development Area	Rural development areas within the Landscape Study Area are located at the foothill of Fei Ngo Shan Road. A large portion of this LR is low-rise residential developments. The modern villages concentrate around Fei Ngo Shan (e.g. Sienna Garden, Helena Heights, Swan Villas and Winsor Castle etc.). The modern villages are connected by narrow lanes and footpaths. This LR trees commonly found include Celtis sinensis, Ficus elastic, Ficus subpisocarpa, Mallotus paniculatus, Ravenala madagascariensis, Sapium discolour and Terminalia catappa, with a height ranging from 6 – 15m, indicating the variety of the trees’ age and maturity. Most trees are generally in poor to fair form and fair health condition. This LR is moderate tolerant to change. The overall sensitivity of this LR is considered as medium.	Medium
LR8		Engineered Slope along with Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR8.1	Part of TG4, Part of TG5	Engineered Slope along Clear Water Bay Road	Roadside tree planting strip and slope stabilization works provides a greening/visual buffer between busy road and adjacent residential developments. Common trees found such as Acacia spp., Ficus spp., Leucaena leucocephala, Casuarina equisetifolia etc in heights between 4m-13m; crown spread 2m-12m; trunk diameter 100-450. Most trees are generally in fair to poor form and health condition. This LR is intolerant to change, since the maturity of the LR. The sensitivity of this landscape resource is high.	High
LR8.2	Part of TG11	Engineered Slope along North of New Clear Water Bay Road	Roadside tree planting strip and slope stabilization works provides a greening/visual buffer between busy road and adjacent residential developments, such as Choi Fai Estate. Common trees found such as Acacia spp., Ficus spp., Machilus spp. etc in heights between 4m-13m; crown spread 2m-12m; trunk diameter 100-500. Most trees are generally in fair to poor form and health condition. This LR is intolerant to change, since the maturity of the LR. The sensitivity of this landscape resource is high.	High
LR8.3	TG9	Engineered Slope along South of New Clear Water Bay Road	Roadside tree planting strip and slope stabilization works provides a greening/visual buffer between busy road and adjacent residential developments associated with hillside of Jordan Valley park behind. Common trees found such as Acacia spp., Ficus spp., Litsea glutinosa, Macaranga tanarius var. tomentosa etc. in heights between 2m-18m; crown spread 2m-9m; trunk diameter 100-500. Most trees are generally in fair to poor form and health condition. This LR is intolerant to change, since the maturity of the LR. The sensitivity of this landscape resource is high.	High
LR8.4	TG14	Engineered Slope along Lin Tak Road	Rock slope with greening on top, common tree species provided such as Acacia spp., Ficus spp., Leucaena leucocephala, Bauhinia variegate ranging in heights from 4-16 m; crown spread from 2-10m; trunk diameter 100-550mm. Narrow soil to suggest the slope trees, most trees are generally in poor form. The works of RIW are mainly at the close proximity of this LR. This LR is intolerant to change, since the maturity of the LR. The sensitivity of this landscape resource is high.	High
LR8.5	TG17	Engineered Slope along Sau Mau Ping Road	Large area of roadside engineered slope of Sau Mau Ping area, greening of slope provided stabilization and visual buffer. Dense hillside vegetation can be found on slope with common species, such as Acacia confuse, Casuarina equisetifolia and Macaranga tanarius var. tomentosa ranging in heights from 4-15 m; crown spread 3-10 m; trunk diameter 100-650mm. Most trees are generally in poor form and fair health condition with low amenity value. Protected incense tree seedlings are also recorded which increase the sensitivity of the LR. This LR is intolerant to change, since the maturity of the LR. The sensitivity of this landscape resource is high.	High
LR9		Watercourses
LR9.1	Part of TG1, Part of TG2, Part of TG3, Part of TG4	Natural Watercourse	Three natural watercourses were identified within the study area. Two of which were identified at the west of the Sienna Garden (i.e. northwest to the proposed RIW at J/O Clear Water Bay Road / On Sau Road). It will only temporary flows during / after period of heavy rain. The natural watercourses range from 1 m to 3 m wide, and had rocky substratum. The dense, riparian vegetation dominated by tree species Machilus chekiangensis, Machilus pauhoi, Sterculia lanceolata; shrubs Opposite-leaved Fig and Wild Coffee; and herb species Giant Alocasia, Hainan Galangal, and Oriental Blechnum. This LR is intolerant to change. The sensitivity of this landscape resource is high.	High
LR9.2	Part of TG1, Part of TG17	Modified Watercourse	Modified watercourse refers to artificial structures for drainage, flood control or irrigation purposes. The modified watercourses ranged from 1 m to 2.5 m in width, had a man-made concrete embankment and base, and were generally open with temporary, slow to moderate water flow. Low coverage and diversity of aquatic / riparian vegetation was recorded from the channels, while most recorded species were very common / common in Hong Kong, such as Bidens alba, Annual Bluegrass (Ipomoea cairica) and Mile-a-minute Weed (Mikania micrantha). No flora species of conservation importance were recorded with in this LR. Overall this LR is common and considered to be reasonably tolerant to change, hence has a low sensitivity.	Low
LCA1		Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA
LCA1	TG1, TG2, TG3, TG4, TG5, TG6	Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA	This is an upland landscapes. It consists of hillsides, knolls, ridges and spurs, they are generally covered in scrub vegetation with rocky outcrops or boulder fields. It also consists of Kwun Tong Government School, Sienna Garden and part of Shun Chi Court. Woodland may be found on lower slopes or in sheltered gullies and ravines, where permanent of seasonal rocky streams tumble down these hillsides. It provides a green backdrop for East Kowloon. Across the whole Landscape Study Area, this LCA is similar in nature and given its high amenity and quality and the fact it has little tolerance to change as well as its importance to the landscape setting of the nearby and wider areas, it is considered to have a high sensitivity.	High
LCA4		Urban LCA
LCA4.1	TG7, TG8, TG9, TG10, TG11, TG12	Urban LCA (Shun Lee Tsuen)	Shun Lee Tsuen and around residential area comprises a mix of low to high buildings for residential uses. The streetscape is utilitarian with limits soft landscape treatment. It is considered to have a high tolerance to change and be of medium to low amenity value. Its sensitivity is considered to be low.	Low
LCA4.2	TG13, TG14, TG15, TG16, TG17, TG18, TG19	Urban LCA (Sau Mau Ping)	Sau Mau Ping and around residential area comprised new and high buildings for residential uses. The streetscape is utilitarian with limits soft landscape treatment. It is considered to have a high tolerance to change and be of low amenity value. Its sensitivity is considered to be low.	Low
LCA5		Urban Parks LCA
LCA5	Part of TG10	Urban Parks LCA	This area offers a wide range of leisure and recreational facilities to the local residents of Shun Lee Tsuen located to the north-west of the assessment areas. The park offers recreational related programmes each month for public participation. It provides a wide range of active and passive recreational facilities for the public. The landscape quality of this resource is considered as medium. The ability of this resource to accommodate change is medium. The overall sensitivity of this resource is considered as medium.	Medium

10.6.14 The sensitivity of LRs and LCAs are summarized as below:

ID No.	LR/ LCA	Sensitivity
LR1 Major Transport Route
LR1.1	Clear Water Bay Road	Low
LR1.2	New Clear Water Bay Road	High
LR1.3	Tseung Kwan O Road	Low
LR2 Hillside Woodland
LR2	Hillside Woodland	High
LR3 Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR3.1	Vegetation around Fei Ngo Shan Road	High
LR3.2	Vegetation at North of Clear Water Bay Road	Medium
LR3.3	Vegetation at South of Clear Water Bay Road and Around New Clear Water Bay Road	High
LR3.4	Vegetation of Merging Lane next to Shun Lee Estate	Low
LR3.5	Vegetation of Lam Tin Park	Low
LR3.6	Vegetation of Ma Yau Tong West Sitting-Out Area	Low
LR4 Urban Development Area
LR4	Urban Development Area	Low
LR5 Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park
LR5	Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park	Low
LR6 Quarry
LR6	Quarry	Low
LR7 Rural Development Area
LR7	Rural Development Area	Medium
LR8 Engineered Slope along with Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR8.1	Engineered Slope along Clear Water Bay Road	High
LR8.2	Engineered Slope along North of New Clear Water Bay Road	High
LR8.3	Engineered Slope along South of New Clear Water Bay Road	High
LR8.4	Engineered Slope along Lin Tak Road	High
LR8.5	Engineered Slope along Sau Mau Ping Road	High
LR9 Watercourses
LR9.1	Natural Watercourse	High
LR9.2	Modified Watercourse	Low
LCA1 Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA
LCA1	Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA	High
LCA4 Urban LCA
LCA4.1	Urban LCA (Shun Lee Tsuen)	Low
LCA4.2	Urban LCA (Sau Mau Ping)	Low
LCA5 Urban Parks LCA
LCA5	Urban Parks LCA	Medium

Visual Envelope

10.6.15 Two Visual Envelopes are identified in the RIW area:

“J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road” and “New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road” shared the same Visual Envelope, while Sau Mau Ping Road is located in a separate Visual Envelope

10.6.16 For the Sau Mau Ping Road, the ridgeline of Black Hill rising to over 281 mPD, forms the principle southern and eastern boundaries of the Visual Envelope. The boundary line of DAR and ARQ forming the northern boundaries of the Visual Envelope and the urban development, like Tsui Ping Estate and Hong Yat Court, forms the western boundary.

10.6.17 For New Clear Water Bay Road, the ridgeline of Kowloon Peak rising to approximately 600 mPD and the boundary line of DAR and ARQS, are forming the northern and southern boundaries. Eastern boundary end at Denon Terrace and western boundary extended to the Kwun Tong Bypass. The Visual Envelope of the project is illustrated in Figure 10.8 to Figure 10.10.

10.6.18 The RIW sites would be visible from vast Hong Kong urban areas of Lam Tin, Choi Hung, Kai, Tak. It should be noted that the actual extent of views is determined by numerous factors including the distance away and level of the viewing position, the weather/ visibility, the orientation of individual buildings, as well as the degree of screening offered by the landform, buildings and vegetation. To rationalize this situation, it is necessary to identify the key sensitive receivers and viewing areas, so as to assess the potential visual impacts on those areas and their populations. These VSRs are mapped in Figure 10.11 to Figure 10.13.

10.6.19 The Planned DAR is currently under construction but will be part of the baseline conditions by the time the proposed development finished and will be the receivers.

10.7 Visually Sensitive Receivers (VSRs)

10.7.1 Within the Visual Envelope, a number of key VSRs have been identified. VSRs are mapped in Figure 10.11 to Figure 10.13. They are listed, together with their baseline assessment and sensitivity, in Table 10.4. Photo views illustrating the VSRs are shown in Figure 10.14 and Figure 10.15 inclusive.

Views Point

10.7.2 VSRs located in close vicinity of RIW with visual influence are mapped in Figure 10.11 to Figure 10.13. The baseline assessment of VSRs shown in Table 10.4.

10.7.3 Viewpoints which are selected have covered all types of VSR including residential and pedestrian traveling from different distances and level.

10.7.4 New Clear Water Bay Road Southeast (VP1), Shun Ching Street Sourtheast (VP3), New Clear Water Bay Road Northeast (VP5), On San Road North (VP8) and Lin Tak Road Northeast (VP11) are travelling VSR. They demonstrate the visual impacts to travellers passing by the surrounding area of the RIW from distances 10m to 200m away.

10.7.5 Shun Lee Disciplined Services Quarters (VP2), Shun On Estate (On Chung House) (VP4), Sienna Garden South (VP6), Lee Cheung House Northeast (VP7), Po Tai Estate South (VP9), Choi Fai Estate Southeast (VP12), Shun On Estate (VP13), Hing Tin Estate (Choi Tin House) North (VP10) are residential VSR. They demonstrate the visual impacts to residential area surrounding the RIW from distances 40m to 650m away.

10.7.6 Viewpoints are identified as:

(1) VP1 from NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD SOUTHEAST;

(2) VP2 from SHUN LEE DISCIPLINED SERVICES QUARTERS (Block 6) NORTHEAST;

(3) VP3 from SHUN CHING STREET SOURTHEAST;

(4) VP4 from SHUN ON ESTATE (ON CHUNG HOUSE) NORTHWEST;

(5) VP5 from NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD NORTHEAST;

(6) VP6 from SIENNA GARDEN SOUTH;

(7) VP7 from SHUN LEE ESTATE (LEE CHEUNG HOUSE) NORTHEAST;

(8) VP8 from ON SAN ROAD NORTH;

(9) VP9 from PO TAI ESTATE (TAT SHUN HOUSE) SOUTH;

(10) VP10 from HING TIN ESTATE (CHOI TIN HOUSE) NORTH;

(11) VP11 from LIN TAK ROAD NORTHEAST;

(12) VP12 from CHOI FAI ESTATE (CHOI YIP HOUSE) SOUTHEAST;

(13) VP13 from SHUN ON ESTATE (ON CHUNG HOUSE) NORTH;

10.7.7 In general, the sensitivity of VSRs at the residential developments is considered to be medium to high, such as VP2, VP6, VP7, VP9, and VP10. They experience long duration and high frequency of view during both construction and operational phases, thus sensitivity is considered to be high.

10.7.8 The RIW will disturb the semi-natural woodland, resulting in loss of greenery. Construction and operation of new lane and flyover will change the visual experience to the VSR. Existing views may be blocked due to RIW. Additional road infrastructure and increased traffic flow will lead to degrade of view.

10.7.9 There is high availability of alternative view to most of these residential receivers. It reduces the impact of VSR to the RIW.

10.7.10 Slope improvement work will be restored and greenery re-gained to compensate the loss of greenery due to the proposed road widening works. The detail mitigation measures will be discussed in paragraph 10.10.

10.7.11 The VSRs (VP4, VP12, and VP13) further from RIW are less sensitive as their views are mainly partial and far away from the RIW. The RIW are mainly constructed or operated at ground level, VSR which far away from RIW is less affected and less impact to its visual experience. They are considered to be of low sensitivity.

10.7.12 There are five travelling VSRs, namely VP1, VP3, VP5, VP8, and VP11. VP3, VP5 and VP11 are of close proximity to RIW (ranging from 10 to 60m). However, since the extent and scale of the RIW is limited, these VSRs have partial views to the proposed works. Their duration of view is short and frequency is occasional. Therefore, their Sensitivity to Change is considered as medium. VP1 and VP8 are distant from RIW (ranging from 200 to 230m). Their views to RIW are also partial and duration of view is short. However, frequency of view for VP8 is occasional, whereas that of VP1 is rare. Thus, Sensitivity to Change for VP8 is medium and that for VP1 is low.

10.7.13 For residential VSRs, they will experience high frequency and long duration of views. The number of individuals being affected is also comparatively higher than travelling VSRs. They are considered to have higher sensitivity. Therefore, VP2, VP7, VP9 and VP10 are considered to be of high sensitivity. VP6 which includes less affected population is considered to be of medium sensitivity.

10.7.14 VP11 demonstrate the impact to the travellers from the new constructed flyover, as discussed above, the sensitively of VP11 is considered to be medium. However, from the photo record presented in Figure 10.15, VSR, Hong Wah Court, located next to new flyover will be subject to larger visual impact by the RIW. Most of the existing views of the lower floor receiver will be blocked during construction and operational phase. Mitigation measure to reduce the impacts of this VSR will be demonstrated and discussed in Section 10.10 and Figure 10.55 and 10.56.

10.7.15 The location of all VP is shown in Figure 10.11 to Figure 10.13 is described below along with its sensitivity, as summarized in Table 10.4. Representative photographs of the VSRs are presented in Figure 10.14 and Figure 10.15.

Table 10.4 Visually Sensitive Receivers and Their Sensitivities

VSR ID.	Visually Sensitive Receiver (VSR)	Type of VSRs	Approx. Level (mPD)	Number of Individuals (Many/ Medium/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 (Frequent/ Occasional/ Rare)	Sensitivity to Change (Low, Medium, High)
VSRs AT LOCAL LEVEL NEW CLEAR WATER BAY AND CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD (SHUN LEE ESTATE, CHOI WAN ESTATE, DISCIPLINES SERVCES QUARTERS, SHUN ON ESTATE)
VP1	NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD SOUTHEAST	Travelling	+135	Few	Good	Yes	Partial	Short	Rare	Low
VP2	SHUN LEE DISCIPLINED SERVICES QUARTERS (Block 6) NORTHEAST	Residential	+120	Many	Good	Yes	Partial	Long	Frequent	High
VP3	SHUN CHING STREET SOURTHEAST	Travelling	+108	Medium	Good	Yes	Partial	Short	Occasional	Medium
VP4	SHUN ON ESTATE (ON CHUNG HOUSE) NORTHWEST	Residential	+198	Many	Good	Yes	Partial	Long	Frequent	Low
VP5	NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD NORTHEAST	Travelling	+167	Few	Good	Yes	Partial	Short	Occasional	Medium
VP6	SIENNA GARDEN SOUTH	Residential	+177	Medium	Good	Yes	Partial	Long	Frequent	Medium
VP7	SHUN LEE ESTATE (LEE CHEUNG HOUSE) NORTHEAST	Residential	+198	Many	Good	Yes	Partial	Long	Frequent	High
VP8	ON SAN ROAD NORTH	Travelling	+174	Few	Good	Yes	Partial	Short	Occasional	Medium
VP9	PO TAI ESTATE (TAT SHUN HOUSE) SOUTH	Residential	+119	Many	Good	Yes	Partial	Long	Frequent	High
VP12	CHOI FAI ESTATE (CHOI YIP HOUSE) SOUTHEAST	Residential	+200	Many	Good	Yes	Partial	Long	Frequent	Low
VP13	SHUN ON ESTATE (ON CHUNG HOUSE) NORTH	Residential	+198	Many	Good	Yes	Partial	Long	Frequent	Low
VSRs AT LOCAL LEVEL TSANG KWAN O TUNNEL (SAU MAU PING SOUTH ESTATE, HING TIN ESTATE AND HONG WAH COURT, PO TAT ESTATE)
VP10	HING TIN ESTATE (CHOI TIN HOUSE) NORTH	Residential	+200	Many	Good	Yes	Partial	Long	Frequent	High
VP11	LIN TAK ROAD NORTHEAST	Travelling	+99	Medium	Good	Yes	Partial	Short	Occasional	Medium

10.8 Landscape Impact Assessment

Potential Sources of Impacts

10.8.1 The Project will involve various sources of landscape impact. The proposed development will create varying levels of impact on the landscape resources and landscape character areas at different stages of its lifetime. Potential landscape impact from above ground development and the footprint of construction works and operational facilities is concentrated upon for the purpose of the assessment.

Construction Phase

10.8.2 During the construction phase of the Project, potential impacts will result from the following:

Ÿ Site clearance and tree and vegetation removal/transplantation;

Ÿ Site formation and slope works including the creation of hoarding, cutting and filling;

Ÿ Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers or flyover

Ÿ Stockpiling of construction and demolition materials, including existing topsoil for reinstatement works, and storage of construction equipment and plants; and

Ÿ Construction of new slope and reinforcement

Operational Phase

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

Ÿ Operation of new road, noise barriers, flyover and slope improvement; and

Source of Landscape Impact and Magnitude of Change during the Construction and Operation before Implementation of Mitigation Measures

10.8.4 The magnitude of change, before implementation of mitigation measures, on the landscape resources and landscape character areas that would occur in the construction and operational phases are described below and tabulated in Table 10.5.

Table 10.5 Source of Landscape Impact and Magnitude of Change during the Construction Phase and Operational Phase

ID No.	Landscape Resources/ Landscape Character Areas	Source of Impact	Description of Impacts
LR1 Major Transport Route
LR1.1	Clear Water Bay Road	Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers or flyover; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work. New lane, noise barriers, slope improvement and flyover are being constructed. Slope improvement works will be carried out. Species of conservation value at New Clear Water Bay Road (Incense Tree) will be affected.
LR1.2	New Clear Water Bay Road
LR1.3	Tseung Kwan O Road
LR2 Hillside Woodland
LR2	Hillside Woodland	Negligible	Negligible
LR3 Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR3.1	Vegetation around Fei Ngo Shan Road	Construction of new lane, widening existing road; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work. New lane, noise barriers and slope cutting are being constructed. Species of conservation value at Clear Water Bay Road (e.g. Incense Tree) will be affected.
LR3.2	Vegetation at North of Clear Water Bay Road	Construction of noise barriers; Construction of new slope and reinforcement.	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work.
LR3.3	Vegetation at South of Clear Water Bay Road and Around New Clear Water Bay Road	Negligible	Negligible
LR3.4	Vegetation of Merging Lane next to Shun Lee Estate	Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work.
LR3.5	Vegetation of Lam Tin Park	Negligible	Negligible
LR3.6	Vegetation of Ma Yau Tong West Sitting-Out Area	Negligible	Negligible
LR4 Urban Development Area
LR4	Urban Development Area	Negligible	Negligible
LR5 Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park
LR5	Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park	Negligible	Negligible
LR6 Quarry
LR6	Quarry	Negligible	Negligible
LR7 Rural Development Area
LR7	Rural Development Area	Negligible	Negligible
LR8 Engineered Slope along with Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR8.1	Engineered Slope along Clear Water Bay Road	Negligible	Negligible
LR8.2	Engineered Slope along North of New Clear Water Bay Road	Negligible	Negligible
LR8.3	Engineered Slope along South of New Clear Water Bay Road	Construction of new lane, widening existing road; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work.
LR8.4	Engineered Slope along Lin Tak Road	Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers or flyover; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work.
LR8.5	Engineered Slope along Sau Mau Ping Road	Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers or flyover; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work.
LR9 Watercourses
LR9.1	Natural Watercourse	Negligible	Negligible
LR9.2	Modified Watercourse	Construction of new lane; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	LR temporarily lost, similar LR created after construction.
LCA1 Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA
LCA1	Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA	Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers or flyover; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work.
LCA4 Urban LCA
LCA4.1	Urban LCA (Shun Lee Tsuen)	Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers or flyover; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work.
LCA4.2	Urban LCA (Sau Mau Ping)	Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers or flyover; Construction of new slope and reinforcement	Existing trees are being affected by the proposed work.
LCA5 Urban Parks LCA
LCA5	Urban Parks LCA	Negligible	Negligible

10.8.5 The landscape impacts with approximate quantity of the affected LRs and magnitude of change are summarized below:

Table 10.6 Magnitude of Change of Landscape Resources

ID No.	Landscape Resources (LR)	Approximate Area of LRs being Affected (m^2)	Estimated Total Number of Trees of LRs	Approximate Number of Trees being Affected	Compatibility of the Project with the Surrounding Landscape (High/ Medium/ Low)	Duration of Impacts (Long/ Medium/ Short)	Reversibility of Change (Yes/ No)	Magnitude of Change
LR1 Major Transport Route
LR1.1	Clear Water Bay Road	7750	20	0	Low	Long	No	Intermediate
LR1.2	New Clear Water Bay Road	6200	37	19	Low	Long	No	Intermediate
LR1.3	Tseung Kwan O Road	7850	133	53	Low	Long	No	Intermediate
LR2 Hillside Woodland
LR2	Hillside Woodland	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR3 Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR3.1	Vegetation around Fei Ngo Shan Road	6750	531	306	Low	Long	No	Large
LR3.2	Vegetation at North of Clear Water Bay Road	1250	320	92	High	Medium	Yes	Intermediate
LR3.3	Vegetation at South of Clear Water Bay Road and Around New Clear Water Bay Road	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR3.4	Vegetation of Merging Lane next to Shun Lee Estate	1150	69	9	High	Short	Yes	Small
LR3.5	Vegetation of Lam Tin Park	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR3.6	Vegetation of Ma Yau Tong West Sitting-Out Area	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR4 Urban Development Area
LR4	Urban Development Area	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR5 Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park
LR5	Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR6 Quarry
LR6	Quarry	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR7 Rural Development Area
LR7	Rural Development Area	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR8 Engineered Slope along with Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR8.1	Engineered Slope along Clear Water Bay Road	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR8.2	Engineered Slope along North of New Clear Water Bay Road	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR8.3	Engineered Slope along South of New Clear Water Bay Road	9500	755	260	Medium	Medium	No	Intermediate
LR8.4	Engineered Slope along Lin Tak Road	10200	775	240	Medium	Long	No	Intermediate
LR8.5	Engineered Slope along Sau Mau Ping Road	8900	865	506	Low	Long	No	Large
LR9 Watercourse
LR9.1	Natural Watercourse	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible
LR9.2	Modified Watercourse	<100	N/A	N/A	Yes	Medium	Yes	Small
LCA1 Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA
LCA1	Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA	15750	1417	398	Low	Long	No	Intermediate
LCA4 Urban LCA
LCA4.1	Urban LCA (Shun Lee Tsuen)	16850	1380	288	Low	Long	No	Intermediate
LCA4.2	Urban LCA (Sau Mau Ping)	26950	2075	799	Low	Long	No	Intermediate
LCA5 Urban Parks LCA
LCA5	Urban Parks LCA	Negligible	N/A	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible	Negligible

10.8.6 The proposed road alignments work affecting the LRs and LCA are demonstrated at Figure 10.40 to Figure 10.45. The road alignment works are further elaborated in Section 2.2. The plan with proposed road alignment works are illustrated as below:

· Figure 10.40	Impact on Landscape Resources (Sheet 1 of 3)
· Figure 10.41	Impact on Landscape Resources (Sheet 2 of 3)
· Figure 10.42	Impact on Landscape Resources (Sheet 3 of 3)
· Figure 10.43	Impact on Landscape Characters Areas (Sheet 1 of 3)
· Figure 10.44	Impact on Landscape Characters Areas (Sheet 2 of 3)
· Figure 10.45	Impact on Landscape Characters Areas (Sheet 3 of 3)

Source of Landscape Impact and Magnitude of Change

10.8.7 LR1 – Major Transport Route, there are new lane, noise barriers and flyover are being constructed. The magnitude of change is expected to be small to intermediate.

10.8.8 LR3 (LR3.1, LR3.2 and LR3.4) - Semi- natural Dense Hillside Vegetation around transport route of RIW, existing trees are being affected by the proposed work and will be permanently removed or transplanted. The magnitude of change is varies from small to large.

10.8.9 LR8 (LR8.3, LR8.4 and LR8.5) - Engineered Slope along with Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation, setting back of slope and existing trees are being affected by the proposed work and will be permanently removed or transplanted. The magnitude of change of LR8.3 and LR8.4 is expected to be intermediate. The magnitude of change of LR8.5 is expected to be large, since large area of this LR will be affected

10.8.10 LR9 (LR9.2) - Construction of new lane and new slope are being constructed. Modified watercourse will remove temporarily. Similar modified watercourse will be reconstructed. The magnitude of change is expected to be small.

10.8.11 LCA1 - Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA, existing trees are being affected by the proposed work and will be permanently removed or transplanted. The magnitude of change is expected to be intermediate.

10.8.12 LCA4 - Urban LCA, existing trees are being affected by the proposed work and will be permanently removed or transplanted. The magnitude of change is expected to be intermediate.

10.8.13 In conclusion, the construction of RIW will affect approximately 1,485 nos. of trees, which will be felled and 24 nos. of trees are proposed to transplant.

10.9 Visual Impact Assessment

Potential Sources of Impacts

10.9.1 Major direct impacts including degrading of visual quality of existing views, change of viewing experience and visual incompatibility of the works with the surrounding visual context, will be resulted from the following activities during the construction phase:

Construction Phase

10.9.2 During the construction phase of the Project, potential impacts will result from the following:

Ÿ Site clearance and tree removal/transplantation;

Ÿ Site formation works including the creation of hoarding, cutting and filling;

Ÿ Construction of new lane, widening existing road, noise barriers or flyover

Ÿ Stockpiling of construction and demolition materials, including existing topsoil for reinstatement works, and storage of construction equipment and plants; and

Ÿ Construction of new slope and reinforcement

Ÿ Temporary structures including fencing; and

Ÿ Potential night-time glare arising from the lighting of construction activities after dark.

Operational Phase

10.9.3 During the operational phase of the project, potential impacts will result from the following:

Ÿ Operation of new road, noise barriers, flyover and slope improvement; and

Ÿ Landscaping works (e.g. existing tree treatment, transplanted trees, planting at slope, compensatory planting).

Source of Visual Impact and Magnitude of Change during the Construction and Operation before Implementation of Mitigation Measures

10.9.4 The magnitude of change, before implementation of mitigation measures, on the VSRs that would occur in the construction and operational phase are described below and tabulated in Table 10.7. All impacts are adverse unless otherwise stated.

10.9.5 During the construction phase and operational phase, the unmitigated visual impacts are adverse in nature and mainly include degrading of visual quality of existing view. Nevertheless, alternative view is also available in all VSRs.

10.9.6 Magnitude of change also considers the distance between VSRs and proposed development. For those VSRs which are far away from the proposed works, magnitude of change will be considered to be small. Magnitude of change for VSRs which are close to the proposed development and with most of the existing views degraded are considered to be large.

10.9.7 VP3, VP5, VP6 and VP11 are of close proximity with RIW (ranging from 10 to 60 m). The existing view is partially blocked. The Magnitude of Change to the VSRs is considered to be large.

10.9.8 VP2 and VP9 are of moderate distance from RIW (80m). Their surrounding landscape are both of medium compatibility with the Project and there will be no blockage of view as a result of the proposed works. Therefore, the Magnitude of Change to the VSRs is considered to be intermediate.

10.9.9 Other VPs are distant from the RIW (ranging from 200 to 650m). Quality of existing views for VP1 and VP10 will degrade due to removal of large area of vegetation and vegetated slope respectively because of the proposed works. Their surrounding landscape are both of medium compatibility with the Project. The magnitude of change for these VSRs is considered to be intermediate.

10.9.10 For all other distant VPs, including VP4, VP7, VP8, VP12, and VP13, there will be no blockage to the existing views. The proposed works are highly compatible to the surrounding landscape. The magnitude of change for these VSRs is considered to be small.

Table 10.7 Visually Sensitive Receivers and Their Magnitude of Change before Mitigation

VSR ID.	Visually Sensitive Receiver (VSR)		Viewing Distance (m)		Compatibility of the Project with the Surrounding Landscape (High/ Medium/ Low)			Duration of Impacts (Long/ Medium/ Short)		Scale of Development (Large/ Medium/ Small)		Reversibility of Change (Yes/ No)		Potential Blockage of View (Full/ Partial/ Nil)		Magnitude of Change (Large/ Intermediate/ Small/ Negligible)
					Construction		Operational	Construction	Operational	Construction	Operational	Construction	Operational	Construction	Operational	Construction	Operational
VSRs AT LOCAL LEVEL NEW CLEAR WATER BAY AND CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD (SHUN LEE ESTATE, CHOI WAN ESTATE, DISCIPLINES SERVCES QUARTERS, SHUN ON ESTATE)
VP1	NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD SOUTHEAST			200		Medium	Medium	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Intermediate	Intermediate
VP2	SHUN LEE DISCIPLINED SERVICES QUARTERS (Block 6) NORTHEAST			80		Medium	Medium	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Intermediate	Intermediate
VP3	SHUN CHING STREET SOURTHEAST			10		Low	Low	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Partial	Partial	Large	Large
VP4	SHUN ON ESTATE (ON CHUNG HOUSE) NORTHWEST			370		High	High	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Small	Small
VP5	NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD NORTHEAST			60		Low	Low	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Partial	Partial	Large	Large
VP6	SIENNA GARDEN SOUTH			35		Low	Low	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Partial	Partial	Large	Large
VP7	SHUN LEE ESTATE (LEE CHEUNG HOUSE) NORTHEAST			270		High	High	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Small	Small
VP8	ON SAN ROAD NORTH			230		High	High	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Small	Small
VP9	PO TAI ESTATE (TAT SHUN HOUSE) SOUTH			80		Medium	Medium	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Intermediate	Intermediate
VP12	CHOI FAI ESTATE (CHOI YIP HOUSE) SOUTHEAST			650		High	High	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Small	Small
VP13	SHUN ON ESTATE (ON CHUNG HOUSE) NORTH			550		High	High	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Small	Small
VSRs AT LOCAL LEVEL TSANG KWAN O TUNNEL (SAU MAU PING SOUTH ESTATE, HING TIN ESTATE AND HONG WAH COURT, PO TAT ESTATE)
VP10	HING TIN ESTATE (CHOI TIN HOUSE) NORTH	250			Medium		Medium	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Nil	Nil	Intermediate	Intermediate
VP11	LIN TAK ROAD NORTHEAST	10			Low		Low	Medium	Long	Medium	Medium	Yes	No	Partial	Partial	Large	Large

10.10 Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures

10.10.1 The previous sections have identified the potential landscape and visual impacts due to the Road Improvement Work. It should be noted that design measures with intention to minimize overall landscape and visual impact due to the development have also been incorporated into the layout plans during planning and design stages. This section will describe the proposed landscape and visual mitigation.

10.10.2 To identify the mitigation measures, these may take the form of adopting alternative designs or revisions to the basic engineering and architectural design to prevent and/or minimize adverse impacts; remedial measures such as colour and textural treatment of building features; and compensatory measures such as the implementation of landscape design measures to compensate for unavoidable adverse impacts and to attempt to generate potentially beneficial long term impacts. The magnitude and sensitivity of change are summarized below:

Table 10.8 Summary Of The Magnitude And Sensitivity Of Change

ID No.	Landscape Resources / Landscape Characters	Sensitivity (Low, Medium, High)		Magnitude of change (Small, Intermediate, Large)
		Construction	Operational	Construction	Operational
LR1 Major Transport Route
LR1.1	Clear Water Bay Road	Low	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate
LR1.2	New Clear Water Bay Road	High	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate
LR1.3	Tseung Kwan O Road	Low	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate
LR2 Hillside Woodland
LR2	Hillside Woodland	High	High	Negligible	Negligible
LR3 Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR3.1	Vegetation around Fei Ngo Shan Road	High	Medium	Large	Large
LR3.2	Vegetation at North of Clear Water Bay Road	Medium	Medium	Intermediate	Intermediate
LR3.3	Vegetation at South of Clear Water Bay Road and Around New Clear Water Bay Road	High	High	Negligible	Negligible
LR3.4	Vegetation of Merging Lane next to Shun Lee Estate	Low	Low	Small	Small
LR3.5	Vegetation of Lam Tin Park	Low	Low	Negligible	Negligible
LR3.6	Vegetation of Ma Yau Tong West Sitting-Out Area	Low	Low	Negligible	Negligible
LR4 Urban Development Area
LR4	Urban Development Area	Low	Low	Negligible	Negligible
LR5 Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park
LR5	Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park	Low	Low	Negligible	Negligible
LR6 Quarry
LR6	Quarry	Low	Low	Negligible	Negligible
LR7 Rural Development Area
LR7	Rural Development Area	Medium	Medium	Negligible	Negligible
LR8 Engineered Slope along with Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR8.1	Engineered Slope along Clear Water Bay Road	High	High	Negligible	Negligible
LR8.2	Engineered Slope along North of New Clear Water Bay Road	High	High	Negligible	Negligible
LR8.3	Engineered Slope along South of New Clear Water Bay Road	High	High	Intermediate	Intermediate
LR8.4	Engineered Slope along Lin Tak Road	High	High	Intermediate	Intermediate
LR8.5	Engineered Slope along Sau Mau Ping Road	High	High	Large	Large
LR9 Watercourse
LR9.1	Natural Watercourse	High	High	Negligible	Negligible
LR9.2	Modified Watercourse	Low	Low	Small	Small
LCA1 Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA
LCA1	Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA	High	High	Intermediate	Intermediate
LCA4 Urban LCA
LCA4.1	Urban LCA (Shun Lee Tsuen)	Low	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate
LCA4.2	Urban LCA (Sau Mau Ping)	Low	Low	Intermediate	Intermediate
LCA5 Urban Parks LCA
LCA5	Urban Parks LCA	Medium	Medium	Negligible	Negligible

10.10.3 Landscape and visual mitigation plan can be referred to Figure 10.16 to Figure 10.26. Sections shows the treatment on slope and existing road are provided at Figure 10.26A to 10.26C. Photomontage can be referred to Figure 10.2 to Figure 10.39.

10.10.4 The proposed landscape and visual mitigation measures for the RIW are listed in Tables 10.9 and 10.10. Generally, all mitigation measures are to be implemented as early as possible.

Table 10.9 Construction Phase Mitigation Measures

ID No.	Construction Phase Mitigation Measures	Funding / Implementation	Maintenance/ Management Agency
CM1[3]	All existing trees to be retained shall be carefully protected during construction. Approximate 1418 nos. of trees will be retained within the project boundary. Reference shall be made to DEVB TC (W) No.7/2015 and Guidelines on Tree Preservation during Development, GLTMS of DEVB	CEDD	CEDD
CM2[2]	Tree Transplantation Detailed transplanting proposal will be submitted to relevant government departments for approval in accordance with ETWB TCW No. 29/2004, DEVB TC (W) No.7/2015 and “Guidelines on Tree Transplanting”, GLTMS of DEVB. Final locations of approximate 24 nos. of transplanted trees shall be located within the project boundary.	CEDD	CEDD (Until handover to relevant government departments)
CM3[3]	Erection of decorative screen hoarding for reducing visual impacts	CEDD	CEDD
CM4	Measures to avoid / minimize impacts to flora species of conservation importance. Refer to para 10.10.5-10.10.9. Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.5. to 10.10.8.	CEDD	CEDD

Table 10.10 Operational Phase Mitigation Measures

ID No.	Operational Phase Mitigation Measures	Funding / Implementation	Maintenance/ Management Agency
OM1 ^[1], [2], [3]	Compensatory tree planting for loss of existing trees (Compensation for loss of road side amenity ) Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.9. to 10.10.12.	CEDD	LR3.1, LR3.2, LR3.3: HyD LR1.2, LR3.4: LCSD
OM2 ^[1], [2], [3], ^[4]	Compensatory woodland planting Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.13. to 10.10.15.	CEDD	LR1.3, LR8.5: HyD LR8.3: HyD, ArchSD
OM3 ^[1], [2], [3] ^[4]	Compensatory shrub mix planting Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.16. to 10.10.17.	CEDD	LR3.1, LR3.2: HyD
OM4 ^[1], [2], [3] ^[4]	Hydro-seeding planting with shrub seed mix Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.18.	CEDD	LR8.4: HyD
OM5 ^[1], [2], [3] ^[4]	Tall buffer advance screen tree / shrub / climber planting Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.19. to 20.	CEDD	LR3.1, LR3.2: HyD
OM6 ^[1], [2], [3]	Planting of road verges, central divider and around structures Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.21.	CEDD	LR8.5, LR1.3, LR4: HyD LR1.1, LR3.3, LR3.4, LR8.3: LCSD
OM7 ^[3]	Reinstate modified watercourse Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.22.	CEDD	DSD
OM8 ^[3]	Provision of visually pleasing aesthetic treatment on noise barriers ( with climbers provided if space available) and enclosures Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.23.	CEDD	HyD
OM9 ^[3]	Hard Landscape Treatment Carriageway, Structures and Roadside Furniture (for example, pleasing aesthetic finishing of retaining wall) Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.24.	CEDD	HyD
OM10 ^[1], [2], [3] ^[4]	Planting of toe planters for slope enhancement Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.25 to 27.	CEDD	LCSD
OM11 ^[1], [2], [3] ^[4]	Planting of berm planters/ planting strips for slope enhancement Details illustrated at Para. 10.10.28 to 30.	CEDD	HyD

Notes:

[1] The maintenance of the interim greening measures will be undertaken by contractor for the first 36-month establishment period after completion of implementation of all landscape mitigation measures. In the case that the site is still not allocated after the establishment period, CEDD would liaise with relevant government departments to agree on the subsequent maintenance agent of the interim greening measures. Contractor would be responsible for the maintenance of the interim greening measures before any agreement is made.

[2] The management and maintenance agencies of mitigation measures have been identified in accordance with DEVB TCW 6/2015. The agreement and approval of the implementation, management and maintenance agencies of the Project will be sought from relevant parties during detailed design stage of the project. Contractor would be responsible for maintenance and management of trees, vegetation and the associated facilities (e.g. irrigation system) within the permanent site boundary. The maintenance matrix and responsible parties for trees outside the permanent site boundary are yet to be confirmed. To facilitate with the confirmation process, CEDD would be responsible for the maintenance works before any agreement is made.

[3] Mitigation measures refer to Good Site Practices.

[4] All slope planting should be complied with GEO publication No. 1/2011 - Technical Guidelines on Landscape Treatment for Slopes.

Mitigation measure for Flora Species of Conservation Importance (CM4)

10.10.5 During the Feasibility Stage detailed evaluation of different alignments and structural forms was undertaken to arrive at the optimum layouts for the RIWs. This included evaluation of the potential ecological impacts arising from various road alignment options. As such, the preferred options (e.g. Option B and D) have resulted in reduced ecological impacts compared to other options as they minimise habitat loss and direct impacts to species of conservation importance (refer to Section 3.2).

10.10.6 However, ecological impacts could not be completely avoided.  Two flora species of conservation importance (Incense Tree and Luofushan Joint-fir) would be subject to direct impacts (e.g. northern side of Clear Water Bay Road and southern side of New Clear Water Bay Road). Therefore, prior to the commencement of the construction works, a vegetation survey should be conducted by a qualified ecologist / botanist / arborist within the Project Site boundary to:

1) Ascertain the presence of, as well as update the conditions, number and locations of the flora species of conservation importance identified

2) Determine the number and locations of the affected individuals of flora species of conservation importance and evaluate the suitability and / or practicality of the transplantation.

10.10.7 A Transplantation Proposal should be prepared by a qualified ecologist / botanist / arborist with detailed findings of the vegetation survey (i.e. number and locations of the affected individuals, assessment of the suitability and / or practicality of the transplantation) and locations of receptor site(s), transplantation methodology, implementation programme of transplantation, post-transplantation monitoring and maintenance programme. The proposal should be submitted to and approved by AFCD prior to commencement of any works (including ground investigation).(Refer to Section 9.13.4 – 9.13.5).

10.10.8 Preservation or transplanting of the trees or vegetation will be favourably considered with reference to DEVB TC(W) 7/2015 Tree Preservation, Guidelines on Tree Preservation during Development, GLTMS of DEVB, Guidelines on Tree Transplanting, GLTMS of DEVB, and other relevant government guidelines. Detailed proposals and method statements will be submitted to relevant government agencies for review and approval.

Compensatory tree planting for loss of existing trees (OM1)

10.10.9 The construction of RIW will affect approximately 1,485 nos. of trees, which will be felled, including 1,432 numbers of fell trees are located on the slope and 53 numbers of trees are non- slope trees. Also, 24 nos. of trees are proposed to transplant.

10.10.10 To compensate the loss of trees on slope, woodland planting is proposed in other mitigation measures (OM2) which are slope with 35 degrees or below according to GEO publication No. 1/2011. The details are illustrated below.

10.10.11 To compensate the 53 numbers of non slope trees, minimum of 53 numbers of heavy standard trees will be compensated which to provide compensatory planting in a ratio of not less than 1:1 in terms of number (i.e. the number of compensatory tree within the site shall not be lower than the number of trees felled including dead trees and trees of undesirable species) in accordance with DEVB TCW No. 7/2015 – Tree Preservation.

10.10.12 Heavy standard trees are proposed to plant at non- slope area to maximize the greening of the surrounding. Species like Cassia spp., Bischofia spp. or Bauhinia spp. which are commonly used at urban planting design are recommended for greenery and compensate the loss non- slope trees.

Compensatory Woodland Planting (OM2)

10.10.13 As mention above, woodland planting is recommended to accommodate the compensation of loss of slope trees. Slopes with 35 degrees or below are proposed to accommodate woodland planting as far as possible. Also, sufficient of soil depth is required for future tree growth.

10.10.14 Compensatory woodland planting is applicable at Sau Mau Ping Road (LR8.5, LR1.3), and New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road (LR 8.3) because the slope is gentle (under 35 degree) and soil depth is of a minimum 800mm. Refer to Table 2.3 in GEO publication No. 1/2011 - Technical Guidelines on Landscape Treatment for Slopes. The goal of the proposed compensatory woodland planting is to reinstate the affected existing landscape resources – semi-natural dense hillside vegetation.

10.10.15 Majority of proposed planting will be whip trees and native species as well as naturalised species to enhance the ecological value, e.g. Litsea glutinosa, Schefflera heptaphylla etc.. Aim to create a vegetation cover that will gradually integrate with the surrounding natural vegetation. Also, The selected native species also encourage biodiversity of both fauna and flora within the woodland and the surrounding environment.

Compensatory Shrub-mix Planting (OM3)

10.10.16 Unfortunately, the affected slope is moderately steep (between 35 to 40 degree) and soil depth is approximately 450mm in J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road (LR3.1, LR3.2), therefore, compensatory shrub-mix planting is considered as a sensible mitigation measure taken into account the site constraints. Refer to Table 2.3 in GEO publication No. 1/2011 - Technical Guidelines on Landscape Treatment for Slopes. The goal of the proposed compensatory shrub-mix planting is to reinstate the affected existing landscape resources – semi-natural dense hillside vegetation.

10.10.17 Majority of proposed planting will be native species as well as naturalised species to enhance the ecological value, e.g. Rhaphiolepis indica, Rhodomyrtus tomentosa etc.. Aim to create a vegetation cover that will gradually integrate with the surrounding natural vegetation. Also, The selected native species also encourage biodiversity of both fauna and flora within the woodland and the surrounding environment.

Hydroseeding Planting with shrub seed mix (OM4)

10.10.18 Hydroseeding planting (grass and shrub seeds) is proposed on rock face along Sau Mau Ping Road (Lin Tak Road) (LR8.4) because the steep rock slope is of a significant level difference and large planting on top of rock slope might impose potential hazard to adjacent road users. Safety concern shall be fully considered.

Tall Buffer Advance Screen Tree/ Shrub / Climber Planting (OM5)

10.10.19 Tall Buffer Advance Screen Tree/ Shrub / Climber Planting is proposed at New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road (LR3.4), and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road (LR3.2). The proposed trees are heavy standard tree for screening off the proposed noise barrier from the adjacent residents.

10.10.20 Species with tall and bushy from will be proposed to provide screening to the surrounding affected area, e.g. Melaleuca leucadendron, Eucalyptus spp.

Planting of Road Verges, Central Divider and around Structures (OM6)

10.10.21 Planting of Road Verges, Central Divider and around Structures is proposed at Sau Mau Ping Road (LR4, LR 8.4, LR8.5), J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road (LR1.1, LR3.3), and New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road (LR1.2, LR3.4, LR8.3). Common urban shrub/ climber or groundcover, e.g. Duranta spp., Parthenocissus tricuspidata are proposed to maximise greening opportunities in accordance with DEVB TC(W) 2/2012 - Allocation of Space for Quality Greening on Roads.

Reinstatement of Affected Modified Watercourse (OM7)

10.10.22 Reinstatement of Affected Modified Watercourse is proposed at J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road (LR9.2). The disturbed existing modified watercourse will be reinstated.

Provision of Visually Pleasing Aesthetic Treatment on Noise Barriers (OM8)

10.10.23 Provision of Visually Pleasing Aesthetic Treatment on Noise Barriers is proposed at Sau Mau Ping Road (LR1.3, LR8.5), J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road (LR1.1), and New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road (LR1.2). Translucent plexiglass with aesthetic pattern will be fully considered for design of noise barrier to enhance visual interest.

Hard Landscape Treatment for Carriageway, Structures and Roadside Furniture (OM9)

10.10.24 Hard Landscape Treatment for Carriageway, Structures and Roadside Furniture is proposed at Sau Mau Ping Road (LR8.5), J/O Clear Water Bay Road and On Sau Road and J/O Clear Water Bay Road and New Clear Water Bay Road (LR1.1, LR3.1, LR3.2), and New Clear Water Bay Road and Shun Lee Tsuen Road(LR1.2, LR3.4, LR8.3). Surface treatment to retaining wall and noise barrier structures will be carefully designed to blend in the existing context.

Planting of toe planters for slope enhancement (OM10)

10.10.25 Planting of toe planters at rock face along Sau Mau Ping Road (Lin Tak Road) (LR8.4) is proposed as a landscape measure to reduce the visual impact to the surrounding residential area.

10.10.26 Introduction of toe planters for planting of trees/ shrubs/ climbers/ bamboo was considered where rock face with 70 degrees or below. The width of planters and numbers/ location of planting are subjected to site condition/ detailed design and agreement from maintenance parties. Indicative location is shown in Figure 10.16 and Figure 10.21. Sections can be referred to Figure 10.57.

10.10.27 Tree species (e.g. Tabebuia spp. or Cinnamomum burmanni) with narrow canopy will be selected to adapt to the limited planting space. Climbers will be planted as much as possible to gain the highest greening coverage to the rock face, e.g. Parthenocissus tricuspidata.

Planting of berm planters/ planting strips for slope enhancement (OM11)

10.10.28 Planting of berm planters/ planting strips on slope berms along Sau Mau Ping Road (Lin Tak Road) (LR8.4) is proposed as a landscape measure to reduce the visual impact to the surrounding residential area.

10.10.29 Introduction of berm planters or berm planting strips for planting of trees/ shrubs/ climbers/ bamboo at slope berms are considered. The location and numbers of berm planters and planting species are subjected to site condition/ detailed design and agreement from maintenance parties. Indicative location is shown in Figure 10.16 and Figure 10.21. Sections can be referred to Figure 10.57.

10.10.30 The selected species for tree planting on berm planters is comply with the recommendation from GEO publication No. 1/2011. Native and small size species of low maintenance requirement (e.g. Ficus hispida or Polyspora axillaris) are suggested to adapt to the limited planting space. Climbers will be planted on planting strips as much as possible to gain the highest greening coverage to the rock face, e.g. Parthenocissus tricuspidata.

Compensatory Proposal for RIW

10.10.31 The construction of RIW will affect approximately 1,485 nos. of trees, which will be felled and 24 nos. of trees are proposed to be transplanted.

10.10.32 Due to numerous site constraints at slope areas, the tree compensation requirement of 1:1 in terms of number and heavy standard size of trees is not feasible. Therefore, tree whips and shrub mix planting are proposed subject to the gradient of the proposed new slopes.

10.10.33 A minimum of 53 numbers of heavy standard trees shall, therefore, be required to compensate the loss trees for the non-slope areas, and will be proposed to be planted along the roadside amenity areas and the non-slope areas behind the retaining wall as screening. The proposed species are commonly used in urban environment so as to reinstate and enhance the surrounding landscape value. The proposed location is shown in Figure 10.16 to Figure 10.26.

10.10.34 Total area of 18,400m² will be planted with proposed compensatory woodland planting with tree whips. Approximately 18,400 whip trees are proposed to reinstate the greenery of slopes. The proposed location for compensatory woodland mix is shown at Figure 10.16 to Figure 10.26 and description on Para. 10.10.14 to 10.10.17.

10.10.35 The total number of compensatory trees is larger than the total number of loss trees. As shown in the table below, the compensatory proposal shall be agreed prior to commencement of the work.

Summary of Slope Trees and Non Slope Trees being affected and proposed treatment are listed below:

	Total Number of Trees to be Felled/ Removed	Proposed treatment
Slope Trees	1,432	Approximately 18,400 whip trees are proposed for reinstate the greenery of slopes (OM2)
Non Slope Trees	53	minimum of 53 numbers of heavy standard trees will be compensated (OM6)
Total number of trees will be compensated		18,453

Programme of Implementation of Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures

10.10.36 The Construction Phase measures listed above should be adopted from the commencement of construction and should be in place throughout the entire construction period. The Operational Phase measures listed above should be adopted during the detailed design, and be built as part of the construction works so that they are in place at the date of commissioning of the Project.

10.11 Residual Impacts

Prediction of Significance of Landscape Impacts

10.11.1 The potential significance of the landscape impacts during the construction and operational phases, before and after mitigation, is provided in Table 10. 11. This assessment follows the proposed methodology and assumes that the appropriate design measures incorporated in the development layout and the mitigation measures identified in Tables 10.9 and Table 10.10 would be implemented and that the full effect of the soft landscape mitigation measures would be realized after 10 years.

Residual landscape impacts in Construction Phase

10.11.2 In the Construction Phase, after the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures, there will still be some residual landscape impacts of moderate to substantial significance. They are described below.

Residual Impacts on Landscape Resources/ Landscape Character Areas

Impact on Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation

10.11.3 Based on the tree survey, approximately 5,000 trees are found within the study area. The removed trees would be transplanted or felled depending on their health condition, amenity value and survival rate after transplanting. The compensatory tree planting or new landscape works as mitigation measures to the loss of trees are proposed for the development. Those impacts can be restored in the future to regenerate nature woodland. Therefore, overall residual impacts on semi-natural dense hillside vegetation are limited.

Impact on engineered slope

10.11.4 Widening of road including the reconstruction of slope nearby, the existing slope with semi-natural dense hillside vegetation may affected and compensate by future slope improvement work. Man-made slope is shown instead of natural hillside vegetation before the vegetation become mature.

10.11.5 Rock slope at Lin Tak Road is being set back for construction of new fly over and road widening, vegetation on slope is removed. The rock slope is being set back at 70-80 degree for construction of new fly over and provision of laybys. Introduction of toe planters for planting of trees/ shrubs/ climbers/ bamboo was considered where rock face with 70 degrees or below. Berm planting is also proposed as a landscape measures to reduce the visual impact to the surrounding residential area.

10.11.6 Hydro-seeding and woodland mix planting on the top of slope to reinstate greening will be applied. Natural succession may reinstate the greening of the rock slope after 10 years.

Impact on modified watercourse

10.11.7 The modified watercourse will be removed temporally due to new lane construction and will be reinstated after the works. Since modified watercourse is considered of low conversation value and ecological value, the overall residual impact to this modified watercourse is acceptable.

Table 10.11 Significance of Landscape Impacts in Construction and Operational Phases

ID No.	Landscape Resources / Landscape Characters	Sensitivity (Low, Medium, High)		Magnitude of change			Impact Significance Threshold BEFORE Mitigation (Insubstantial, Slight, Moderate, Substantial)		Recommended Mitigation Measures	Residual Impact Significance Threshold AFTER Mitigation (Insubstantial, Slight, Moderate, Substantial)
		Construction	Operational	Construction		Operational	Construction	Operational		Construction	Operational
											DAY 1	Year 10
LR1 Major Transport Route
LR1.1	Clear Water Bay Road	Low	Low	Small		Small	Slight	Slight	CM1, OM6, OM8, OM9	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
LR1.2	New Clear Water Bay Road	High	Low	Intermediate		Intermediate	Moderate	Slight	CM1, CM2, OM1, OM6, OM8, OM9	Slight	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
LR1.3	Tseung Kwan O Road	Low	Low	Intermediate		Intermediate	Slight	Slight	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM2, OM9	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
LR2 Hillside Woodland
LR2	Hillside Woodland	High	High	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR3 Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR3.1	Vegetation around Fei Ngo Shan Road	High	Medium	Large		Large	Substantial	Substantial	CM1, CM2, OM1, OM3, OM5, OM7, OM9	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
LR3.2	Vegetation at North of Clear Water Bay Road	Medium	Medium	Intermediate		Intermediate	Moderate	Moderate	CM1, CM2, OM1, OM3, OM5, OM9	Slight	Slight	Insubstantial
LR3.3	Vegetation at South of Clear Water Bay Road and Around New Clear Water Bay Road	High	High	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR3.4	Vegetation of Merging Lane next to Shun Lee Estate	Low	Low	Small		Small	Slight	Slight	CM1, CM2, OM1, OM5	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
LR3.5	Vegetation of Lam Tin Park	Low	Low	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR3.6	Vegetation of Ma Yau Tong West Sitting-Out Area	Low	Low	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR4 Urban Development Area
LR4	Urban Development Area	Low	Low	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR5 Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park
LR5	Shun Lee Tsuen Sports Centre and Park	Low	Low	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR6 Quarry
LR6	Quarry	Low	Low	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR7 Rural Development Area
LR7	Rural Development Area	Medium	Medium	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR8 Engineered Slope along with Semi-natural Dense Hillside Vegetation
LR8.1	Engineered Slope along Clear Water Bay Road	High	High	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR8.2	Engineered Slope along North of New Clear Water Bay Road	High	High	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR8.3	Engineered Slope along South of New Clear Water Bay Road	High	High	Intermediate		Intermediate	Moderate	Moderate	CM1, OM2, OM6, OM9	Slight	Slight	Insubstantial
LR8.4	Engineered Slope along Lin Tak Road	High	High	Intermediate		Intermediate	Moderate	Moderate	CM1, OM4, OM10, OM11	Slight	Slight	Insubstantial
LR8.5	Engineered Slope along Sau Mau Ping Road	High	High	Large		Large	Substantial	Substantial	CM1, CM2, OM2	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
LR9 Watercourse
LR9.1	Natural Watercourse	High	High	Negligible		Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
LR9.2	Modified Watercourse	Low	Low	Small		Small	Slight	Slight	OM7	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
LCA1 Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA
LCA1	Peaks, Uplands and Hillsides LCA	High	High		Intermediate	Intermediate	Moderate	Moderate	CM1, CM2, OM1, OM3, OM5, OM6, OM7, OM8, OM9	Slight	Slight	Insubstantial
LCA4 Urban LCA
LCA4.1	Urban LCA (Shun Lee Tsuen)	Low	Low		Intermediate	Intermediate	Slight	Slight	CM1, CM2, OM1, OM2, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
LCA4.2	Urban LCA (Sau Mau Ping)	Low	Low		Intermediate	Intermediate	Slight	Slight	CM1, CM2, OM2, OM4, OM6, OM8, OM9	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
LCA5 Urban Parks LCA
LCA5	Urban Parks LCA	Medium	Medium		Negligible	Negligible	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Prediction of Significance of Visual Change

10.11.8 An assessment of the potential significance of the visual change during the construction and operational phases, before and after mitigation, is listed in detail in Table 10.11. This follows the proposed methodology and assumes that the appropriate construction and operational mitigation measures identified in Section 10.10 above would be implemented, and that the full effect of the soft landscape mitigation measures would be realized after ten years. The residual impacts after mitigation are briefly described below.

Residual Visual Impacts in Construction Phase

10.11.9 In the construction phase, the impact significance threshold before mitigation for the VSRs are mostly substantial with six in total. The impact significance threshold before mitigation for four VSRs are moderate, and three are insubstantial.

10.11.10 These adverse impacts are alleviated with the implementation of the appropriate mitigation measures, including incorporation of decorative hoarding. Thus, adverse residual impacts are expected to be moderate for six of the VSRs and slight for four of the VSRs. Residual impacts of the remaining three remain as insubstantial.

10.11.11 The residual impacts ranges from moderate to insubstantial. However, since alternative view is available for all the VSRs, the residual visual impacts in construction phase of RIW are generally acceptable.

Residual Visual Impact in Operational Phase

10.11.12 In the operational phase, the impact significance threshold before mitigation for the VSRs are mostly substantial with six in total. The impact significance threshold before mitigation for four VSRs are moderate, and three are insubstantial.

10.11.13 These adverse impacts are alleviated with the implementation of the appropriate mitigation measures in Day 1. Thus, Day 1 adverse residual impacts are expected to be moderate for six of the VSRs and slight for four of the VSRs. Day 1 Residual impacts of the remaining three remain as insubstantial.

10.11.14 Vegetated semi-natural dense hillside vegetation on the existing slope or along the existing roads will be restored by new planting. New planting will regenerate woodland in about 10 years after completion of the proposed works. The visual experience of the VSRs will be restored. Thus, residual impact in operational phase for most VSRs will further be reduced to insubstantial 10 years after completion of the proposed works. Only 4 of the VSRs will have slight residual impacts.

10.11.15 Residents of lower floors of Hong Wah Court next to the junction of Sau Mau Ping Road / Lin Tak Road will suffer from large visual impact from the new construction of flyover. Most of the existing view of lightly vegetated rock slope of the residents of lower floors facing the flyover will be permanently blocked by the works at operational phase.

10.11.16 To mitigate the impact, pleasing design of noise barrier and planting on the edge of flyover will be applied to soften the impact from the structure. Nevertheless, residual visual impact to residents living in lower floors of Hong Wah Court is substantial.

10.11.17 Consideration of different design or measures to minimize the impact has been made. Although residual impact is unavoidable, the proposed work will bring benefits to the society in the long term, including the following:

- To alleviate the traffic problem and provide free flow carriageway from Lin Tak Road and Sau Mau Ping Road to Tseung Kwan O Road slip road through a junction modification work at Sau Mau Ping Road/ Lin Tak Road and a construction of flyover;

- To resolve the blockage problem in the through traffic at Lin Tak Road by lengthening the roadside lay-by at Lin Tak Road near Hong Wah Court and Hing Tin Estate for accommodation of on-street pick-up/drop-off activities;

- To provide a U-turn facility at a nearer distance near the junction of Clear Water Bay Road / On Sau Road; and

- To solve the queuing problem at the bottleneck location  at New Clear Water Bay Road (Kowloon-bound) near Shun Lee Tsuen Road by widening the section of New Clear Water Bay Road (Kowloon-bound) from one lane to two lanes.

10.11.18 Design intention and consideration of alternatives are provided at Section 2 and 3.

Table 10.12 Significance of Visual Change in the Construction and Operational Phases

VSR Type & ID.	Key Visually Sensitive Receiver (VSR)	Main Source of Visual Change	Magnitude of Change (Negligible, Small, Intermediate, Large)		Receptor Sensitivity (Low, Medium, High)		Impact Significance Threshold Before Mitigation (Insubstantial, Slight, Moderate, Substantial)		Recommended Mitigation Measures	Residual Impact Significance Threshold After Mitigation (Insubstantial, Slight, Moderate, Substantial)
										Construction	Operational
			Construction	Operational	Construction	Operational	Construction	Operational			DAY 1	YEAR 10
VP1	NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD SOUTHEAST	Road widening, New noise barrier, Slope works, New lanes, New flyover	Intermediate	Intermediate	Low	Low	Moderate	Moderate	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM2, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Slight	Slight	Insubstantial
VP2	SHUN LEE DISCIPLINED SERVICES QUARTERS (Block 6) NORTHEAST		Intermediate	Intermediate	High	High	Moderate	Moderate	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM2, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Moderate	Moderate	Insubstantial
VP3	SHUN CHING STREET SOURTHEAST		Large	Large	Medium	Medium	Substantial	Substantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM5, OM8, OM9	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
VP4	SHUN ON ESTATE (ON CHUNG HOUSE) NORTHWEST		Small	Small	Low	Low	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM2, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VP5	NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD NORTHEAST		Large	Large	Medium	Medium	Substantial	Substantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM3, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
VP6	SIENNA GARDEN SOUTH		Large	Large	Medium	Medium	Substantial	Substantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM3, OM5, OM8, OM9	Moderate	Moderate	Insubstantial
VP7	SHUN LEE ESTATE (LEE CHEUNG HOUSE) NORTHEAST		Small	Small	High	High	Moderate	Moderate	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM3, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Slight	Slight	Insubstantial
VP8	ON SAN ROAD NORTH		Small	Small	Medium	Medium	Moderate	Moderate	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM3, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Slight	Slight	Insubstantial
VP9	PO TAI ESTATE (TAT SHUN HOUSE) SOUTH		Intermediate	Intermediate	High	High	Substantial	Substantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM2, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
VP10	HING TIN ESTATE (CHOI TIN HOUSE) NORTH		Intermediate	Intermediate	High	High	Substantial	Substantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM2, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Moderate	Moderate	Insubstantial
VP11	LIN TAK ROAD NORTHEAST		Large	Large	Medium	Medium	Substantial	Substantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM6, OM8, OM9, OM11	Moderate	Moderate	Slight
VP12	CHOI FAI ESTATE (CHOI YIP HOUSE) SOUTHEAST		Small	Small	Low	Low	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM2, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial
VP13	SHUN ON ESTATE (ON CHUNG HOUSE) NORTH		Small	Small	Low	Low	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	CM1, CM2, CM3, OM1, OM3, OM5, OM6, OM8, OM9	Insubstantial	Insubstantial	Insubstantial

Note:

All impacts are adverse unless otherwise noted with Beneficial

10.12 Conclusion

10.12.1 Based on the broad-brush tree survey conducted, it is estimated that approximately 1,485 nos. of trees would need to be felled and 24 nos. of trees would need to be transplanted. Others will be retained on site. Compensatory proposal for different landscape resources will be applied to compensate for the loss of existing trees. The overall residual impact on trees is considered acceptable with implementation of the recommended mitigation measures.

10.12.2 Semi-natural dense hillside woodland would be set back for widening the existing roads. The impacts on the affected areas are considered to be acceptable as the existing green backdrop of the surrounding area would not be severely damaged or changed over time. Appropriate mitigation measures are recommended to enhance the greening effects and facilitate regeneration of woodland in the future.

10.12.3 The slope at Lin Tak Road would be set back for the construction of the new flyover and road widening. Vegetation on the slope will be removed. Residents of lower floors of Hong Wah Court next to the junction of Sau Mau Ping Road / Lin Tak Road will suffer from large visual impact. To alleviate the impact from the hard structure, the noise barrier will adopt a pleasing design and planting will be applied to the edge of the flyover. Toe planters and berm planting have been proposed as landscape mitigation measures to further reduce the visual impact on the surrounding residential area. In summary, the residual visual impact to residents living in lower floors of Hong Wah Court would be minimized.

10.12.4 The work areas for the RIW are generally at ground level. The visual experience of the VSRs will not change much as alternative view is available and the change will be even less significant with the implementation of mitigation measures.

10.12.5 In summary, the landscape and visual impacts from the Project are considered to be generally acceptable with the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures.