9 ECOLOGICAL IMPACT

9.1 Introduction

9.1.1 This chapter presents the assessment of the ecological and nature conservation impacts that may arise from the construction and operation of the proposed Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area (HSK NDA) (herein referred to as the “Project”), as based on the revised recommended outline development plan (Revised RODP). A location plan, the Revised RODP, and description of the development are presented in Figure 1.1, Figure 2.2 and Chapter 2, respectively. The aim of the ecological impact assessment is to provide information to identify, predict, and evaluate potential ecological impacts.

9.2 Environmental Legislation, Policies, Plans, Standards and Criteria

9.2.1 This assessment makes reference to the following HKSAR Government ordinances, regulations, standards, guidelines, and documents when identifying ecological importance of habitats and species, and evaluating and assessing potential impacts of the Project on the ecological resources:

· The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499), and its subsidiary legislation, which provides guidelines on the environmental impact assessment process.

· Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM) Annex 8 – recommends the criteria to be used for evaluating habitat and ecological impact.

· EIAO-TM Annex 16 – sets out the general approach and methodology for assessment of ecological impacts arising from a project or proposal, to allow a complete and objective identification, prediction and evaluation of the potential ecological impacts.

· EIAO Guidance Note No. 3/2010 – provides guiding principles on the approach to assess the recommended environmental mitigation measures in EIA reports.

· EIAO Guidance Note No. 6/2010 clarifies the requirements of ecological assessments under the EIAO.

· EIAO Guidance Note No. 7/2010 provides general guidelines for conducting ecological baseline surveys in order to fulfil requirements stipulated in the EIAO-TM.

· EIAO Guidance Note No. 10/2010 introduces some methodologies in conducting terrestrial and freshwater ecological baseline surveys in order to fulfil requirements stipulated in the EIAO-TM.

· EIAO Guidance Note No. 11/2010 introduces general methodologies for conducting marine ecological baseline surveys.

· The Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208) provides for the designation and management of country parks and special areas. Country Parks are designated for the purpose of nature conservation, countryside recreation and outdoor education. Special areas are created mainly for the purpose of nature conservation.

· 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. Related subsidiary regulations prohibit the selling or possession of listed, restricted and protected plant species.

· Under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170), designated wild animals are protected from being hunted, whilst their nests and eggs are protected from injury, destruction and removal. All birds and most mammals, including marine cetaceans, are protected under this Ordinance.

· The Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) gives effect to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Hong Kong. It restricts the import and export of species listed in CITES Appendices so as to protect wildlife from overexploitation or extinction. The Ordinance is primarily related to controlling trade in threatened and endangered species and restricting the local possession of them.

· The Town Planning Ordinance (Cap. 131) provides for the designation of coastal protection areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Conservation Area, Country Park, Green Belt or other specified uses that promote conservation or protection of the environment.

· Chapter 10 of the Hong Kong Planning Standard and Guidelines (HKPSG) covers planning considerations relevant to conservation. This chapter details the principles of conservation, the conservation of natural landscape and habitats, historic buildings, archaeological sites and other antiquities. It also describes enforcement issues. The appendices list the legislation and administrative controls for conservation, other conservation related measures in Hong Kong and Government departments involved in conservation.

· The Water Pollution Control Ordinance (Cap. 358) which provides the main statutory framework for the declaration of water control zones (WCZ) to cover the whole of Hong Kong and the establishment of water quality objectives.

· ETWB TCW No. 5/2005 Protection of Natural Streams/Rivers from Adverse Impacts arising from Construction Works provides an administrative framework to better protect all natural streams/rivers from the impacts of construction works. The procedures promulgated under this Circular aim to clarify and strengthen existing measures for protection of natural streams/rivers from Government projects and private developments.

· DSD Practice Note No. 1/2015 Guidelines on Environmental and Ecological Considerations for River Channel Design presents the essential environmental and ecological considerations that should be taken into account in the design of river channels.

9.2.2 This section also makes reference to the following international conventions and national legislation

· The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those taxa that are facing a higher risk of global extinction. The IUCN Red List also includes information on taxa that are either close to meeting the threatened thresholds or that would be threatened were it not for an ongoing taxon-specific conservation programme.

· The People's Republic of China National Protection Lists of Important Wild Animals and Plants – lists detailed Category I and Category II key protected animals and plant species under Mainland Chinese Legislation. The list was last updated in November 2002.

· The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 with three main objectives: to conserve biodiversity, to ensure sustainable use of the components of biodiversity, and to share the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources in a fair and equitable manner. There are currently over 190 Parties to the Convention, including China. In May 2011, the CBD was formally extended to Hong Kong. The Environment Bureau and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department have embarked on an exercise to develop a city-level Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP) under the CBD.

9.3 Assessment Approach and Methodology

Assessment Area

9.3.1 In accordance with Clause 3.4.10.2 of the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-291/2015, the assessment area for the purpose of the terrestrial ecological impact assessment includes areas within 500 m distance from the Project area and any other areas likely to be impacted by the Project and associated works (refer to Figure 9.1).

9.3.2 No marine works would be undertaken under the Project. The assessment area for aquatic ecology is the same as the water quality impact assessment (as described in Chapter 5) and therefore includes Deep Bay WCZ and North Western WCZ (refer to Figure 10.1 for locations).

Literature Review

9.3.3 Relevant findings from available studies/surveys regarding the ecological characters of the assessment area have been reviewed and collated in accordance with Sections 3.4.10.4 (i) and (ii) of the EIA Study Brief:

Reports and Studies from Private Sectors and Government

· Agreement No. CE 66/96 - Planning and Development Study on North West New Territories (NWNT), Additional Services: Feasibility Study on Development for Additional Population Growth in North West New Territories (PlanD, 2001); Environmental Assessment of the Planning and Development Study on North West New Territories (PlanD/TDD, 1999);

· North West New Territories Planning and Engineering Study (CEDD, 2003);

· New Nature Conservation Policy (AFCD, 2015);

· Territory-wide long-term biodiversity monitoring on selected taxa groups (2002 to 2016) (AFCD, 2016);

· Register of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) (PlanD, 2015);

· Memoirs of Hong Kong Natural History Society;

· Avifauna of Hong Kong (Carey et al., 2001);

· GeoInfo Map from Lands Department;

· Porcupine! – newsletter of Department of Ecology & Biodiversity of University of Hong Kong;

· Biodiversity – newsletter of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD);

· Annual Report and other Publications of The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society; and

· Egretry Counts in Hong Kong with particular reference to the Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site. Report by Hong Kong Bird Watching Society to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (2000-2015) (Kwok et al., 2000; Wong and Kwok, 2001; Wong, 2002; Wong and Woo, 2003; Anon, 2004, 2005a, 2006a, 2007a, 2008a, 2009a, 2011a, 2012a, 2012b, 2013a, 2014a; 2015).

Relevant EIA studies

· Agreement No. CE 66/96 - Planning and Development Study on North West New Territories, Technical Paper No. 13 Environmental Impact Assessment (PlanD, 1999a);

· Agreement No. CE 66/96 - Planning and Development Study on North West New Territories, Technical Paper No. 13 Environmental Impact Assessment. (PlanD, 1999b);

· Feasibility Study for Additional Cross Border Links Stage 2, Environmental Assessment Technical Report (PlanD, 2000);

· Deep Bay Link (DBL) Environmental Impact Assessment (HyD, 2002a);

· Shenzhen Western Corridor (SWC) Environmental Impact Assessment (HyD, 2002b);

· Upgrading and Expansion of San Wai Sewage Treatment Works and Expansion of Ha Tsuen Pumping Station Environmental Impact Assessment (DSD, 2002); and

· Hang Hau Tsuen Channel at Lau Fau Shan Environmental Impact Assessment (CEDD, 2009).

9.3.4 Relevant data from the literature review has been drawn upon and included in the ecological assessment presented below.

Ecological Surveys

9.3.5 Based on the literature review, ecological surveys were carried out to fill information gaps, verify the information collated, and to fulfil the requirements of the EIA Study according to the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-291/2015.

9.3.6 A twelve-month programme of ecological field surveys (covering both dry and wet seasons) was undertaken from October 2011 to September 2012. Table 9.1 summarises the survey programme. The methodologies adopted for the ecological surveys are presented below.

Table 9.1 Ecological Survey Programme

Proposed Survey	Dry Season						Wet Season						Wet Season		Dry Season			Wet Season
	2011						2012						2013	2014	2015		2016	2016
	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	May	Sep	Jan	Dec	Jan	May	Jun
Habitat and Vegetation	ü	ü								ü
Avifauna Survey		ü		ü		ü		ü		ü		ü
Avifauna Survey (Night Survey)						ü				ü
Breeding Ardeid Flight Path Survey										ü
Butterfly, Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey		ü					ü	ü		ü		ü
Herpetofauna Survey						ü		ü		ü		ü
Herpetofauna Survey (Night Survey)						ü				ü
Terrestrial Mammal Survey				ü		ü		ü				ü
Terrestrial Mammal Survey (Night Survey)						ü				ü
Freshwater Communities Survey						ü				ü
Intertidal Survey				ü						ü
Additional Site Visits
Habitat and Status Update of Ecologically Sensitive Areas, Including: i. San Sang San Tsuen Egretry ii. Ngau Hom Shek Egretry iii. Marsh Areas at Fung Kong Tsuen iv. Fishponds and Mitigation Ponds v. Natural Watercourses vi. Agricultural Areas vii. Intertidal Area													ü	ü	ü	ü	ü
Additional Ecological Surveys (at Newly Added Sites, i.e. Service Reservoir Sites)
Habitat and Vegetation														ü			ü
Avifauna Survey														ü			ü
Butterfly, Dragonfly and Damselfly Survey														ü			ü
Herpetofauna Survey														ü			ü
Terrestrial Mammal Survey														ü			ü
Additional Ecological Surveys (at Newly Added Sites, i.e. Watercourse 5 and Watercourse 6; and San Sang San Tsuen Egretry)
Freshwater Communities Survey																		ü
Breeding Ardeid Flight Path Survey at San Sang San Tsuen Egretry																		ü	ü

Note:

The ticks (ü) denote the timing of the surveys for the faunal or floral groups assessed under the Study.

9.3.7 Given the long study period and changes to the Revised RODP (see Chapter 2), additional surveys and site verification were conducted to fill in any residual information gaps, where relevant. Additional surveys verified and updated the ecological conditions and collected additional baseline information from the assessment area. This included:

· Since no egrets were recorded at Ngau Hom Shek egretry during the breeding season in 2012 during the site check, no flight line survey was conducted for this egretry. However, according to Anon (2012b), one nest was recorded in 2012. Therefore, an additional site visit was conducted at Ngau Hom Shek egretry during breeding season in 2013 to check the egretry status (i.e. active or abandoned);

· Additional surveys were conducted during September 2014, January 2015, December 2015 and January 2016 to update the habitat status, mapping and vegetation of the assessment area. Incidental records of fauna species of conservation importance, observed during the additional surveys and site verification, were also included. These additional surveys covered ecologically sensitive areas which are typically subject to relatively rapid change due to human influence and natural processes, including San Sang San Tsuen egretry, marsh areas (e.g. marsh at Fung Kong Tsuen), ponds, natural watercourses, intertidal area and agricultural areas;

· Habitat/vegetation and fauna surveys were undertaken at areas newly added to the assessment area (i.e. service reservoir sites at Ngau Hom Shek knoll and southeast of Yuen Long Highway) in September 2014 and January 2016;

· Additional freshwater communities survey was undertaken at watercourses newly added to the assessment area (i.e. Watercourse 5 at the west of Kau Lee Uk Tsuen and Watercourse 6 on the foot of Yuen Tau Shan) in May 2016; and

· Additional breeding ardeid flight path surveys were undertaken at San Sang San Tsuen egretry in May 2016 and June 2016.

9.3.8 Given that no marine works are required for the Project and the water quality impacts from the operation phase of the Project to marine waters of the Deep Bay WCZ and North Western WCZ would be minimal (Chapter 5 refers), no marine ecological survey, including marine mammal survey, was deemed necessary.

Ecological Survey Methodology

Habitat Mapping and Vegetation Survey

9.3.9 A habitat map of suitable scale (1:5000) showing the types and locations of terrestrial habitats within the assessment area (refer to Figure 9.2) was prepared by making reference to existing aerial photography, GeoInfo Map from Lands Department and then a ground-truthing exercise of the assessment area was undertaken. Habitat and vegetation survey was conducted in accessible areas of the different habitat types and along paths (including the walk transects presented in Figure 9.1) to characterise vegetation in the assessment area. Ecological characteristics of each habitat type, including size, vegetation type, species richness and abundance, community structure, seasonal patterns, inter-dependence of the habitats and species and presence of any features of ecological importance were defined and characterised. Representative photographs of the habitat types and/or any important ecological features identified were taken.

9.3.10 Nomenclature and conservation status of plant species follow Xing et al. (2000), Wu and Lee (2000), Siu (2000), AFCD (2003) and AFCD (2004). Reference was also made to Corlett et al. (2000), Hu et al. (2003), Hong Kong Herbarium (2004), and Hong Kong Herbarium and South China Botanical Garden (2007; 2008; 2009; 2011).

Fauna Surveys

9.3.11 Ecological surveys on terrestrial faunal groups (i.e. mammal survey, avifauna survey, herpetofauna survey, odonate and butterfly survey) were carried out along the walk transects shown in Figure 9.1. Locations for point count of freshwater fish and aquatic invertebrate surveys are also presented in Figure 9.1. Vantage points for egretry are presented in Figure 9.4A – 9.4C.

Avifauna Survey

9.3.12 The avifauna species at various habitats were recorded visually and aurally during wet and dry season. The location of any avifauna species of conservation importance encountered was recorded, along with notable behaviour (e.g. breeding behaviour such as nesting and presence of recently fledged juveniles, roosting, and feeding activities).

9.3.13 A night-time avifauna survey was undertaken once during both wet season and dry season to survey nocturnal avifauna species. Avifauna within the assessment area were surveyed quantitatively using the transect survey method. The survey included detection of calling birds and direct observation of individuals, as appropriate. Ornithological nomenclature follows Carey et al. (2001), Viney et al. (2005) and the most recent updated list from The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS).The breeding ardeid flight path survey was undertaken at the San Sang San Tsuen egretry during the breeding season to investigate the status and nesting activities of the egretry. One survey in July 2012 was conducted for the new egretry discovered at San Sang San Tsuen during the course of a reconnaissance survey in July 2012. Additional ardeid flight path surveys were undertaken at San Sang San Tsuen in May 2016 and June 2016. The location of the egretry was mapped and the physical environment including identification of trees supporting nests, their size, and crown spread, and evidence and severity of human disturbance within or in close proximity to the egretry. The distribution and abundance of nests from all ardeid species was identified from ground level using binoculars. The nest status (vacant or occupied) and presence of adult/juveniles were also recorded.

9.3.14 Flight line surveys were conducted half an hour before dawn and lasted for about two hours from at least one vantage point (refer to Figure 9.4A – 9.4C for egretry location and vantage points). The flight line of ardeid individuals were followed by means of high power binoculars to identify their landing locations and potential foraging grounds, wherever possible. If the ardeids flew out of sight prior to landing, the location at which they were lost from sight was recorded. Flight paths of ardeids were plotted on a base map, and the approximate flight height was estimated and recorded.

Mammal Survey

9.3.15 Terrestrial mammal surveys were conducted in areas which may be potentially impacted by the Project and which could be potentially utilised by terrestrial mammals. The surveys focused on searching for field signs such as droppings, footprints, diggings or burrows left by larger terrestrial mammals in wet and dry seasons. Mammal identification was made as accurately as possible from the field signs encountered. In addition, any mammal directly observed was identified. Nomenclature of mammals follows Shek (2006). Flying mammals were also taken into account during the mammal survey through the use of bat detectors.

Herpetofauna Survey

9.3.16 Herpetofauna surveys were undertaken by transect count method quantitatively. Direct observation and active searching were conducted during day and night time. Diversity, relative abundance and habitat of the occurrence of herpetofauna were recorded. All reptiles and amphibians sighted were counted and recorded. Nomenclature of amphibian and reptile follow Chan et al. (2005) and Karsen et al. (1998), respectively.

9.3.17 Records of calling amphibians formed the bulk of the data collected, but this was also supplemented when possible by visual observation of eggs, tadpoles and adult frogs and toads. Amphibian survey focused on areas suitable for amphibians (e.g. forest, shrubland, watercourses).

9.3.18 During reptile surveys, careful searches of appropriate microhabitats and refugia (e.g. stones, crevices, ponds, leaf litter/debris, rotten log) were undertaken. All reptiles observed were identified. In addition to active searching, observation of exposed, basking or foraging reptiles was also recorded, as appropriate.

Odonate and Butterfly Survey

9.3.19 Butterflies and odonates within the assessment area were surveyed visually by transect count method during the dry and wet seasons. Diversity, relative abundance and habitat of the occurrence of butterflies and dragonflies were recorded. Nomenclature of butterfly follows Lo (2005) and nomenclature of odonate follows Tam et al. (2011).

Freshwater Communities Survey

9.3.20 Watercourses, storm drains and drainage lines which carry water only under heavy rainfall (e.g. contour lines which form part of the catchment but are not incised or do not hold water after a storm event) had been identified during the desktop study. However, freshwater surveys were conducted by active searching and direct observation only at permanently flowing streams within the assessment area during the dry and wet seasons. Representative locations in natural and modified watercourses which are accessible and would be directly impacted by the Project were chosen for surveys (see Figure 9.1), where a combination of kick sampling, turning over boulders and other means of active searching for stream organisms was undertaken, as appropriate to the conditions. Organisms encountered were recorded and identified to the lowest possible taxon level. Nomenclature of fish and assessment of geographic distribution status of the species in Hong Kong follow Lee et al. (2004).

Intertidal Survey

9.3.21 Surveys on intertidal communities were conducted twice (once in wet season and once in dry season of 2012) at representative survey locations within the assessment area (Figure 9.1). At each survey location, a qualitative walk-through survey was conducted to identify the intertidal flora and fauna (e.g. Horseshoe Crab and seagrass) present and their occurrence in the survey location. This walk-through survey helped assess whether the sampling exercise in the quantitative survey collected representative data (e.g. the number and type of species encountered) and whether the sampling effort was deemed adequate.

9.3.22 After the walk-through survey, quantitative survey was conducted using line transect method to establish the ecological profile on the intertidal habitats. One line transect was deployed at each survey location. Transects of a maximum length of 100 m were laid perpendicular to shoreline from high water mark down to low water mark during the low tide period (tide level below 1 m). Along each transect, standard ecological sampling quadrat (dimensions 0.5 m x 0.5 m) was laid at 1 m intervals (or other suitable quadrat dimension and interval distance depending on the field situation). Intertidal epifauna and flora within each quadrat were identified and enumerated. In general, mobile fauna were counted in terms of abundance per unit area. Sessile organisms such as barnacles, oysters and algae were estimated in terms of percentage cover per fixed area. Intertidal fauna were identified to the lowest practicable taxon.

9.3.23 At survey locations in mudflat and sandy shore, a core sample using a 1,000 cm³ hand core sampler was also taken from each water level (i.e. low tide, mid tide and high tide) and collected infauna were sieved, counted and identified to the lowest taxonomic level as far as possible.

Evaluation of Conservation Importance/Value and Impact Significance

Conservation Importance/Value

9.3.24 Impact significance depends on the magnitude and scale of an impact, and the conservation importance/value of the species or habitat(s) likely to be affected. Evaluation of ecological importance of the species and habitat(s) associated with the assessment area was based on the criteria outlined in Tables 2 and 3 of the EIAO-TM Annex 8.

9.3.25 Table 2 of Annex 8 (EIAO-TM) specifies criteria for evaluating the importance of a site/habitat. This includes: naturalness; size; diversity; rarity; re-creatability; fragmentation; ecological linkage; potential value; nursery/breeding ground; age; and abundance/richness of wildlife. These criteria have been considered when evaluating the importance of habitats recorded within the assessment area.

9.3.26 Table 3 of EIAO-TM Annex 8 specifies three criteria by which species conservation importance may be measured:

· Protection status (local – Hong Kong; Mainland Chinese; or international), making special reference to legally protected species and/or those under international conventions for conservation;

· Geographical distribution, with higher conservation value afforded to species with more restricted geographical ranges (locally or regionally). More weight shall be given to species which are endemic to Hong Kong or South China; and

· Rarity, with higher conservation value afforded to species which are internationally “rare” than to species which are only regionally or locally “rare”.

9.3.27 For the purpose of this ecological assessment, species protection status is based on local and People’s Republic of China legislation, standards and guidelines, outlined in Section 9.2 above.

9.3.28 In terms of assessing geographical distribution, published references specialising in the distribution of specific faunal groups in Hong Kong have been utilised. For general distribution status of the species in Hong Kong, references are made to Fellowes et al. (2002) and the Hong Kong Biodiversity Database (AFCD, 2015). For the purpose of this ecological assessment, species which were identified as having a “rare” distribution were assessed as being of conservation importance.

9.3.29 The assessment of faunal restrictedness and rarity has been based on the assessment by Fellowes et al. (2002). This paper examines the local (Hong Kong), regional (South China) and global restrictedness of native fauna species occurring in a wild state in Hong Kong, combined with an assessment of the vulnerability of populations, using the most reliable and up to date information available at that time, and assigns a rating to each species accordingly. The following ratings are assessed: Local Concern (LC), Regional Concern (RC) and Global Concern (GC).

9.3.30 Some species are considered to be relatively secure in Hong Kong at present, but since the Hong Kong population is of regional or global importance, all Hong Kong localities are of potential regional and global importance, respectively. These species were therefore assigned as either Potential Regional Concern (PRC) or Potential Global Concern (PGC).

9.3.31 The Fellowes et al. (2002) assessment also considers restrictedness in nesting and/or roosting sites. For the purpose of this ecological impact assessment, species falling into this category have only been assessed as of having conservation importance, if they were recorded nesting/roosting within the assessment area during the surveys.

Impact Significance

9.3.32 The potential ecological impacts arising from the Project were assessed following the criteria outlined in Table 1 of the EIAO TM Annex 8. This included:

· Habitat Quality – particular emphasis was given to the evaluation of habitats;

· Species – particular emphasis was given to the evaluation of species importance;

· Size / abundance – impacts of greater significance generally result where a larger habitat area or greater species numbers are affected;

· Duration – short-term and long-term impacts;

· Reversibility – consideration of temporary reversible and permanent irreversible impacts; and

· Magnitude – consideration of the magnitude and scale of the Project element.

9.3.33 This also included consideration of direct, indirect, secondary, cumulative, adverse and beneficial impacts of the proposed development on the ecological resources.

Survey Limitations

9.3.34 Some parts of the assessment area (e.g. privately owned land, active construction sites, and fenced land) were inaccessible during the surveys. Access to the woodland/shrubland/grassland/uphill natural watercourse habitats in the west of the assessment area was also limited. In order to survey the inaccessible areas, flora and fauna species in these habitats were recorded with the use of binoculars where possible.

9.3.35 In addition, as the intertidal survey location P4a was not accessible during the wet season in January 2012, intertidal survey was conducted at a new survey location P4b. These limitations did not affect the survey objectives from being achieved.

9.4 Baseline Conditions

Literature Review

Recognised Sites of Conservation Importance and Ecologically Sensitive Areas

9.4.1 “Coastal Protection Area” (“CPA”) and “Conservation Area” (“CA”) are recorded outside the Project area within the assessment area. Three egretries (Ngau Hom Shek egretry, Shenzhen Bay Bridge egretry and San Sang San Tsuen egretry) have also been recorded within the assessment area; however, only San Sang San Tsuen egretry is located within the Project area (refer to Figures 9.1). Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park can be found within the aquatic ecology assessment area.

Coastal Protection Area

9.4.2 A “CPA”, covering 20.52 ha and designated under the Ha Tsuen Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) (Statutory Plan No. S/YL-HT/10), is located outside the northern Project area along Deep Bay. Deep Bay is a shallow bay with a deeply intended coastline of around 17 km located east of the Pearl River Delta. It is fed by the Shenzhen River, Yuen Long River and Dasha River, and is heavily influenced by the discharge of the Pearl River estuary. The substrate of Outer Deep Bay is predominantly sand, while that of inner Deep Bay is almost exclusively mud (EPD, 2009). The coastline of the “CPA” comprises mainly mudflat and mangrove while the inland part of the “CPA” comprises mainly village/orchard and developed area, as well as small patches of ponds, agricultural area and plantation.

Conservation Area

9.4.3 A “CA”, covering approximately 183 ha and designated under the Ha Tsuen OZP, Ping Shan OZP, and Lam Tei and Yick Yuen OZP (Statutory Plan Nos. S/YL-HT/10, S/YL-PS/16, S/TM-LTYY/8 and S/YL-TYST/10), is located west of the Project area on the eastern slope of Yuen Tau Shan and southeast of Yuen Long Highway. The majority of the “CA”, except for a small area adjacent to the Kong Sham Western Highway (KSWH) falls outside the Project area. Outside the Project area, the “CA” comprises mainly shrubland and grassland, as well as some natural watercourse and small patches of village/orchard and plantation. While inside the Project area, the small area of “CA” comprises plantation and developed area (i.e. roads and reinforced concrete flood storage pond with limited plant species recorded).

Egretries

9.4.4 Three egretries occur within the assessment area (Ngau Hom Shek egretry, Shenzhen Bay Bridge egretry and San Sang San Tsuen egretry); however, only San Sang San Tsuen egretry is located within the Project area (Figure 9.1). Historical information of the egretries is also provided below, while the breeding ardeid flight path surveys were conducted on 8 June 2012, 6 July 2012 and 10 July 2012; and survey results are presented in Appendix 9.5 and Figure 9.4A. Additional ardeid flight path surveys were undertaken at San Sang San Tsuen egretry in May 2016 and June 2016, and survey results are presented in Appendix 9.5 and Figure 9.4B – 9.4C.

9.4.5 Ngau Hom Shek egretry is located in an open storage site at Ngau Hom Shek adjacent to Deep Bay Road and approximately 300 m outside the northern Project area (Figure 9.3B refers). It is built on bamboo clumps and has supported Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). The Ngau Hom Shek egretry was first recorded in 2000 and the total number of nests recorded at the site over the years is presented in Table 9.2. The site was abandoned between 2005 and 2007 and in 2011 and 2013. It was recorded to have re-established in 2014. Some of the nesting ardeids from the Ngau Hom Shek egretry might have relocated to Ngau Hom Sha Egretry, which is outside the Project area and located 1.5 km south-east to the Ngau Hom Shek egretry, during its years of abandonment.

Table 9.2 Number of Nests Recorded from Ngau Hom Shek Egretry during the Waterbird Monitoring Programme from 2000-2015

Year	Number of Nests of Little Egret	Number of Nests of Chinese Pond Heron	Total Number of Nests Recorded
2000¹	11	4	15
2001²	1	6	7
2002³	5	8	13
2003⁴	5	8	13
2004⁵	1	1	2
2005⁶	0	0	0
2006⁷	0	0	0
2007⁸	0	0	0
2008⁹	4	5	9
2009¹⁰	5	15	20
2010¹¹	8	10	18
2011¹²	1	2	3
2012¹³	0	1	1
2013¹⁴	0	0	0
2014¹⁵	2	2	4
2015¹⁶	2	6	8

Note:

¹Kwok et al. (2000); ²Wong and Kwok (2001); ³Wong (2002); ⁴ Wong and Woo (2003); ⁵Anon (2004a); ⁶Anon (2005a); ⁷Anon (2006a); ⁸Anon (2007a); ⁹Anon (2008a); ¹⁰Anon (2009a); ¹¹Anon (2010a); ¹² Anon (2012a); ¹³ Anon (2012b); ¹⁴Anon (2013); ¹⁵Anon (2014); ¹⁶Anon (2015)

9.4.6 San Sang San Tsuen egretry is located at the edge of San Sang San Tsuen near KSWH (Figure 9.3D) within the Project area. It was built on two bamboo clumps standing less than 10 m from each other and has supported Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). It was first recorded in 2012 (Anon, 2012b) and the total number of nests recorded increased from seven to 15 between 2012 and 2013 (Anon, 2012b, 2013); however, the nest recorded decreased to four in 2015 (Anon, 2014) (Table 9.3).

Table 9.3 Number of Nests Recorded from San Sang San Tsuen Egretry during the Waterbird Monitoring Programme from 2012-2015

Year	Number of Nests of Little Egret	Number of Nests of Chinese Pond Heron	Total Number of Nests Recorded
2012¹	4	3	7
2013²	8	7	15
2014³	4	2	6
2015⁴	3	1	4

Note:

¹ Anon (2012b); ²Anon (2013); ³Anon (2014); ⁴Anon (2015)

9.4.7 Shenzhen Bay Bridge egretry is located within the assessment area adjacent to Shenzhen Bay Bridge and approximately 220 m outside the northern Project area (Figure 9.3B refers). This egretry was discovered in 2014 by HKBWS (Anon, 2014). Bamboo was utilised by two ardeid species, Chinese Pond Heron and Little Egret, as nesting substrate. This egretry remained size increased to 30 nests in 2015 (Anon, 2015) (Table 9.4).

Table 9.4 Number of Nests Recorded from Shenzhen Bay Bridge Egretry during the Waterbird Monitoring Programme from 2012-2014

Year	Number of Nests of Little Egret	Number of Nests of Chinese Pond Heron	Total Number of Nests Recorded
2014¹	10