9 landscape and visual impact

9.2 Environmental Legislation, Standards and Criteria

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

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

· Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance Guidance Note 8/2010;

· Town Planning Ordinance (Cap 131);

· Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586);

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

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

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

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

· ETWB TCW No. 8/2005 - Aesthetic Design of Ancillary Buildings in Engineering Projects;

· DEVB TCW No. 2/2012 - Allocation of Space for Quality Greening on Roads;

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

· ETWB TCW No. 6/2015 - Maintenance of Vegetation and Hard Landscape Features;

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

· GEO Publication No. 1/2011 – Technical Guidelines on Landscape Treatment and Bio-Engineering for Man-Made Slopes and Retaining Walls;

· Guidelines on Tree Transplanting (September 2014) issued by Greening, Landscape and Tree Management (GLTM) Section of DevB;

· Guidelines on Tree Preservation during Development (April 2015) issued by GLTM Section of DevB;

· Study on Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong; and

· LAO PN 3/2014 - Design, Disposition and Height (DDH) Clause under Lease Conditions.

· Identification of the baseline landscape resources and landscape characters found within the study area. This is achieved by site visits and desktop study of topographical maps, information databases and photographs. Landscape resources and character areas identified within 500m from the project site will be identified.

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

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

High:	Important landscape character or resource of particularly distinctive character or high importance, sensitive to relatively small change.
Medium:	Landscape character or resource of moderately valued landscape characteristics reasonably tolerant to change.
Low:	Landscape character or resource, the nature of which is largely tolerant to change.

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

· The magnitude of landscape changes is classified as follows:

Large:	The landscape character or landscape resource would incur a major change.
Intermediate:	The landscape character or landscape resource would incur a moderate change.
Small:	The landscape or landscape resource would incur slight or barely perceptible change.
Negligible:	The landscape or landscape resource would incur no discernible change.

· Identification of potential landscape mitigation measures. These may take the form of adopting basic scheme design to prevent and/or minimize adverse landscape impacts before adopting other mitigation or compensatory measures to alleviate the impacts. Potential mitigation measures shall include the preservation of vegetation, transplanting of trees of good amenity value, re-provision of screen planting, landscape reinstatement of disturbed lands, compensatory planting, design of structure, provision of finishes to structure, colour scheme and texture of material used and any measures to mitigate the disturbance of the existing land use. A programme for the mitigation measures is provided. The agencies responsible for the funding, implementation, management and maintenance of the mitigation measures are identified.

· Prediction of the significance of landscape impacts before and after the implementation of the mitigation measures. By synthesizing the magnitude of the various impacts and the sensitivity of the various landscape resources, it is possible to categorize impacts in a logical, well-reasoned and consistent fashion. Table 9.1 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 9.1 Relationship between Landscape Sensitivity and Magnitude of Change in Defining Impact Significance

Magnitude of Change	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 Landscape Character Area and Resource
Note: All impacts are Adverse unless otherwise noted with Beneficial.

· 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.

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

Visual Impact Assessment Methodology

9.3.2 The visual impacts have been assessed according to the following procedures.

· Identification of the Visual Envelope during the construction and operation phases of the project. This is achieved by site visit and desktop study of topographic maps, photographs and preparation of cross-sections to determine visibility of the Project from various locations.

· Identification of the VSRs within the Visual Envelope at construction and operation phases. These are the people who would reside within, work within, play within, or travel through, the Visual Envelope.

· Assessment of the degree of sensitivity of the VSRs. Factors considered include:

o 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 change 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.

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

· The sensitivity of VSRs is classified as follows:

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

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

· Assessment of the potential magnitude of visual changes. Factors considered include:

o the compatibility with the surrounding landscape;

o the duration of the impact under construction and operation phases;

o the reversibility of the impact;

o the scale of the impact and distance of the source of impact from the viewer; and

o the degree of visibility of the impact, and the degree of which the impact dominates the field of vision of the viewer.

· The magnitude of visual changes is classified as follows:

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

· Identification of potential landscape mitigation measures. These may take the form of adopting basic scheme design to prevent and/or minimize adverse visual impacts before adopting other mitigation or compensatory measures to alleviate the impacts. Potential mitigation measures shall include the preservation of vegetation, transplanting of trees of good amenity value, re-provision of screen planting, landscape reinstatement of disturbed lands, compensatory planting, design of structure, provision of finishes to structure, colour scheme and texture of material used and any measures to mitigate the disturbance of the existing land use. A programme for the mitigation measures is provided. The agencies responsible for the funding, implementation, management and maintenance of the mitigation measures are identified.

· Prediction of the significance of visual impacts before and after the implementation of the mitigation measures. By synthesizing the magnitude of the various visual impacts and the sensitivity of the VSRs, and the numbers of VSRs that are affected, it is possible to categorize the degree of significance of the impacts in a logical, well-reasoned and consistent fashion. Table 9.2 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.

Table 9.2 Relationship between Visually Sensitive Receivers (VSRs) Sensitivity and Magnitude of Change in Defining Impact Significance

Magnitude of Change	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 Visually Sensitive Receivers (VSRs)
Note: All impacts are Adverse unless otherwise noted with Beneficial.

· 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.

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

9.4 Review of Planning and Development Control Framework

9.4.1 Relevant outline development plan(s), outline zoning plan(s), layout plan(s) or planning briefs and studies which may identify areas of high landscape value, e.g. green belt and woodland areas with sensitive landscape designations and visually sensitive areas/receivers are reviewed. Any guidelines on landscape strategy, landscape framework, urban design concept, building height profiles, designed view corridors, open space network and landscape link that may affect the appreciation of the Project shall also be reviewed. The aim is to gain an insight to the future outlook of the area affected so as to assess whether the Project can fit into the surrounding setting. Any conflict with statutory town plan(s) shall be highlighted and appropriate follow-up action shall be recommended.

9.4.2 The existing Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery as well as the proposed extension fall within the Lantau South Country Park and are zoned “Country Park” (“CP”) on the Approved South Lantau Coast Outline Zoning Plan No. S/SLC/19. The planning intention of the “CP” is to protect natural features and to provide outlets for outdoor recreation for public enjoyment of the countryside. The proposed extension consists of an elevated platform of around 225m² to accommodate some 790 niches and ancillary facilities. The extension is small and localized as well as is located immediately to the east of the existing Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery. To a large extent, the Project Site is surrounded by natural terrain and hence not easily noticeable. Subject to no adverse comment from Country and Marine Parks Board, the proposed extension would not be in conflict with the Approved Outline Zoning Plan.

9.5 Baseline Study

Landscape Resources (LR)

9.5.1 The details of Baseline Landscape Resources which would be potentially affected by the Project, together with their sensitivity are described below. The locations of baseline landscape resources and their photos are illustrated in Figure 9.1.

9.5.2 LR1 Lantau Trail (Section 12) - This is hiking trail with approximately 9km in distance from Mui Wo to Pui O. This Section is at +104mPD locates at the north west of the project site. This is an important trail in Lantau Island which provides outdoor hiking with beautiful views along the coastline of Lantau Island. It is considered to be of territorial importance. The quality of this resource is high and the LR is rare. This landscape resource is mature and the ability to accommodate change is low. The sensitivity of this resource is high.

9.5.3 LR2 Vegetation within the Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery - This is a heavily vegetated area on man-made slopes between development platforms within the boundary of the existing cemetery. A mix of native trees including few numbers of Aquilaria sinensis (with trunk diameter less than 95mm), exotic trees and shrubs are found on the slopes. It is a common landscape resource. The quality of this resource is medium. The vegetation on the man-made slopes in the cemetery is mature. The ability of this resource to accommodate change is medium. The sensitivity of this resource is medium.

9.5.4 LR3 Vegetation on natural terrain and man-made slopes - This is a heavily vegetated area on natural hillside and man-made slopes along access roads. Native trees and shrubs are found on natural terrain and exotic species are commonly found on man-made slopes. It is a common landscape resource in Lantau. The quality of this resource is high. The vegetation in the landscape is mature. The ability of this resource to accommodate change is low. The sensitivity of this resource is high.

9.5.5 LR4 Stream Courses - Several stream courses were recorded within Assessment Area. These stream courses were generally flowing in south direction and eventually joining together before ends at Chi Ma Wan. Lower stream section was observed flowing with clear water in both dry and wet seasons while upper stream section was generally observed dry up during dry season. This is a common landscape resource found in natural hillside with local importance. The quality of this resource is high and ability to accommodate change is low. The sensitivity of this resource is high.

9.5.6 The details evaluation of the sensitivities for the above identified landscape resources are presented in following Table 9.3.

Landscape Character Areas (LCA)

9.5.7 The details of Baseline Landscape Character Area which would be potentially affected by the Project, together with their sensitivity are described making reference to the Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong. Mui Wo Coastal Upland and Hillside Landscape Character Area is the only landscape type identified in accordance with the Landscape Value Mapping of Hong Kong within the study boundary. It is a large-scale upland and hillside landscapes which abut the sea. It consists of hillsides, knolls, ridges and spurs. They are generally covered in scrub or grassland with rocky outcrops or boulder fields. Woodland are found on lower slopes or in sheltered gullies and ravines. Due to its remote location, this landscape contains few human features. Key human feature include Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery and associated access road, a number of scattered village houses and Lantau Trail etc. This type of landscape is commonly found around the coasts of Hong Kong. The landscape is mature. The quality of this LCA is high. The ability of this LCA to accommodate localized changes is low. The sensitivity of this LCA is considered high. The location and photo record of this LCA are illustrated in Figure 9.2. The details evaluation of the sensitivities for the LCA is presented in following Table 9.4.

Broad Brush Tree Survey

9.5.8 A broad brush tree survey was carried out in accordance with the EIA Study Brief to identify dominant tree species, maturity, rarity and any plant species of conservation interest, etc. which would be potentially affected to provide baseline information on the landscape resources and landscape character areas.

9.5.9 Based on the broad brush tree survey, there were approximately 30 nos. of trees within the project boundary. The dominant tree species include Acacia confusa, Cratoxylum cochinchinense, Lophostemon confertus, Mallotus paniculatus, Rhus succedanea and Sapium discolor. They are generally of mature size with fair form, health and amenity value. Within the project boundary, a young Aquilaria sinensis (with dimension of 0.02m of DBH and 1.5m height) was identified. There is no Old and Valuable Trees (OVT) identified within the project boundary. All tree species surveyed are commonly found in Hong Kong. Details of the vegetation survey are identified and assessed in Section 8.

Table 9.3 Sensitivities of Landscape Resources

ID	Landscape Resources (LRs)	Quality of LRs (High / Medium / Low)	Maturity of LR (Over-mature / Mature/ Young)	Rarity of LR (Rare / Common / Very Common)	Ability to accommodate change (Low / Medium / High)	Importance of LR (Local / Territorial / Regional / Global)	Sensitivity (High/Medium/Low)
LR1	Lantau Trail (Section 12)	High	Mature	Rare	Low	Territorial	High
LR2	Vegetation within the Lai Chi Yuen	Medium	Mature	Common	Medium	Local	Medium
LR3	Vegetation on natural terrain and man-made slopes	High	Mature	Common	Low	Territorial	High
LR4	Stream Courses	High	Mature	Rare	Low	Local	High

Table 9.4 Sensitivity of Landscape Character Area

ID	Landscape Character Areas	Quality of LCA (HIgh / Medium / Low)	Maturity of LCA (Over-mature / Mature/ Young)	Rarity of LCA (Rare / Common / Very Common)	Ability to accommodate change (Low / Medium / High)	Importance of LR (Local / Territorial / Regional / Global)	Sensitivity (High/Medium/Low)
LCA	Mui Wo Coastal Upland and Hillside	High	Mature	Common	Low	Territorial	High

ID	Landscape Resources (LR)	Scale of Development	Reversibility of Change	Duration of Impact	Compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape	Magnitude of Change
LR1	Lantau Trail (Section 12)	None	N/A	N/A	High	Negligible
LR2	Vegetation within the Lai Chi Yuen	Small	Irreversible	Permanent	Medium	Intermediate
LR3	Vegetation on natural terrain and man-made slopes	None	N/A	N/A	Medium	Negligible
LR4	Stream Courses	None	N/A	N/A	N/A	Negligible

ID	Landscape Character Area (LCA)	Scale of Development	Reversibility of Change	Duration of Impact	Compatibility of the project with the surrounding landscape	Magnitude of Change
LCA	Mui Wo Coastal Upland and Hillside	Small	Irreversible	Permanent	High	Negligible

9.7 Visual Impact Assessment

Sources of Visual Impacts

9.7.1 The sources of visual impacts in the construction phase would include:

· Site formation work for the proposed platform and associated facilities;

· Construction of the site access of 7.5m²;

· Construction of the elevated platform of around 225m² including structural columns and provision of niches and ancillary facilities; and

· Temporary Works for the in-situ concrete casting, temporary stockpiling etc.

9.7.2 The source of visual impacts in the operation phase would be limited to the operation of facilities at the Cemetery Extension.

Magnitude of Visual Impacts

9.7.3 During construction, it is considered the proposed platform is a localised extension from the existing cemetery. The compatibility of the Project during construction phase is medium. The construction period will last for 2 years and the duration is considered as short. The scale of development is very small and localized. The works constructed are irreversible. There would not be any potential blockage of view during construction. In view of the short distance from the project site, it is predicted that the magnitude of visual change for VSR1 is considered as intermediate. For VSR2 and VSR 3, it is predicted that the magnitude of visual change is considered as negligible as there is no direct view from these VSRs. During operation, the irreversible unmitigated impact will be the same as the construction phase.

Significance of Unmitigated Visual Impacts

9.7.4 It is predicted that there would be intermediate magnitude of visual change on the visitors to the Cemetery (VSR1). The sensitivity of VSR1 is low. The resultant significance of unmitigated visual impact on VSR1 would be slight during construction and operation.

9.7.5 It is predicted that there would be negligible magnitude of visual change on the hikers along Lantau Trail (VSR2) and Recreational users of Ngau Koo Wan Hill Court (VSR3). The sensitivity of VSR2 and VSR3 is low. The resultant significance of unmitigated visual impact on VSR2 and VSR3 would be insubstantial during construction and operation.

Recommended Photomontage Viewpoints

9.7.6 Computer generated photomontages will be prepared to illustrate the potential landscape and visual impact of the Project. The criteria for the selection of representative viewpoints for photomontages include: -

· the viewpoints which cover the aboveground structure viewed from major public viewpoint represents key VSRs or VSR groups who would be potentially affected by the proposed Project; and

· the viewpoints which shall be able to represent the worst case scenarios and demonstrate the compatibility of the aboveground structures to the adjacent visual context and illustrate the visual effect during Day 1 without mitigation measures, Day 1 with mitigation measures and Year 10 with mitigation measures.

9.7.7 Based on the location of the proposed extension, one photomontage from a vantage point taken from the existing Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery is recommended to illustrate the potential landscape and visual impact due to the Project. The computer generated photomontage to illustrate the potential landscape and visual impact of the Project is shown in Figure 9.5.

9.8 Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures

9.8.1 The proposed extension has been designed to minimize any potential landscape and visual impact as much as possible. Unavoidably, there would be some potential landscape and visual impact. Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures are therefore proposed to alleviate the potential adverse landscape and visual impact.

9.8.2 The proposed landscape and visual mitigation measures in the construction and operation are listed in Tables 9.7 and 9.8 below, together with an indication of Funding, Implementation and Maintenance Agencies and illustrated in Figure 9.4.

Table 9.7 Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures for Construction Phase

ID No.	Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures	Funding Agency	Implementation Agency
CM1	Preservation of Existing Vegetation All the existing Trees to be retained within the site and not to be affected by the Project shall be carefully protected during construction accordance with DEVB TCW No. 7/2015 - Tree Preservation and the latest Guidelines on Tree Preservation during Development issued by GLTM Section of DevB. Any existing vegetation on existing man-made slope and natural terrain not to be affected by the Project shall be carefully preserved.	ArchSD	ArchSD
CM2	Compensatory Tree Planting Any Trees to be felled under the Project shall be compensated in accordance with DEVB TCW No. 7/2015 - Tree Preservation. Native species will be proposed. Compensatory trees shall be in heavy standard size.	ArchSD	ArchSD
CM3	Control of Night-time Lighting Glare Any lighting provision of the construction works at night shall be carefully control to prevent light overspill to the nearby VSRs and into the sky.	ArchSD	ArchSD
CM4	Erection of Screen Hoarding in Visually Unobtrusive Colour Screen hoarding in visually unobtrusive colour, which is compatible with the surrounding settings, shall be erected during construction to minimize the potential landscape and visual impacts due to the construction works and activities.	ArchSD	ArchSD
CM5	Management of Construction Activities and Facilities The facilities and activities at works sites and areas, which include site office, temporary storage areas, temporary works etc., shall be carefully managed and controlled on the height, deposition and arrangement to minimize any potential adverse landscape and visual impacts.	ArchSD	ArchSD
CM6	Reinstatement of Temporarily Disturbed Landscape Areas All hard and soft landscape areas disturbed temporarily during construction due to temporary excavations, temporary works sites and works areas shall be reinstated to equal or better quality, to the satisfaction of the relevant Government Departments.	ArchSD	ArchSD

Table 9.8 Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures for Operation Phase

ID No.	Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures	Funding Agency	Implementation Agency	Maintenance/ Management Agency*
OM1	Aesthetically pleasing design of Aboveground Structures The Aboveground Structures of the Project including proposed elevated platform, structural columns, niches and ancillary facilities in the regard of layouts, forms, materials and finishes shall be sensitively designed so as to blend in the structures to the adjacent landscape and visual context.	ArchSD	ArchSD	ArchSD
OM2	Amenity Tree and Shrub Planting Amenity tree and shrub planting shall be provided at the edge of the platform to provide green transition between the proposed extension and the existing natural terrain.	ArchSD	ArchSD	ArchSD
OM3	Screen Planting to soften the Structural Columns of the elevated platform Shade Tolerant species will be selected carefully. Screen planting on slope and vertical screen planting in the form of climbers on wire mesh are proposed in front of the structural columns of the elevated platform to minimize the potential adverse visual impact.	ArchSD	ArchSD	ArchSD

9.8.3 The construction phase mitigation measures listed above shall be implemented as early as possible in order to minimize the landscape impacts in the construction stage. The operation phase mitigation measures listed above shall be adopted during the detailed design and be built as part of the construction works at the last stage of the construction period so that they are in place at the date of commissioning of the Project. The plant species, which shall be of low maintenance and self-sustained which would not require regular ongoing maintenance, shall be carefully selected to ensure that the stilt structure is effectively screened. However, it should be noted that the full effect of the soft landscape mitigation measures would not be appreciated for several years. Photomontages of the proposed project without and with mitigation measures illustrating the appearance after 10 years of the proposed works are shown in Figure 9.5.

9.9 Residual Impact

Significance of Residual Landscape Impact after Mitigation Measures

9.9.1 Under the proposed works, it is estimated approximately 30 trees will be felled for the works. The affected trees are growing on slopes, their survival rate are generally low after transplanting and therefore they are not recommended to be transplanted. With the implementation of preservation of existing vegetation around the proposed platform and reinstatement of temporarily disturbed landscape areas, it is predicted that there would still be moderate residual impact during construction phase. During operation, 6 trees of native species of heavy standard size will be compensated at the elevated platform and 24 trees of native species of heavy standard size with native shrubs as understory layer will be compensated within the boundary of the existing cemetery (see Figure 9.6). It is predicted that there would still be slight residual impact in day 1 and insubstantial residual impact in year 10 of operation when the compensatory tree planting proposed becomes mature.

9.9.2 There is only 1 no. of Aquilaria sinensis (with dimension of 0.02m of DBH and 1.5m height) identified within the project site that would be affected by the proposed works under the ecological impact assessment. The affected Aquilaria sinensis shall be transplanted where possible. Detailed mitigation for transplantation proposal for flora species of conservation importance is described in Para. 8.7.6. The tree compensation and transplantation will be carried out by ArchSD. The transplanted and compensated trees will be maintained by ArchSD/FEHD.

9.9.3 Under the proposed works, it is predicted that there would be insubstantial significance of impact on Mui Wo Coastal Upland and Hillside Landscape Character Area. With the implementation of proposed mitigation measures, the residual impact would remain insubstantial during construction and operation.

9.9.4 The details of the residual impact on LRs and LCA are presented in Table 9.9 and 9.10.

Significance of Residual Visual Impacts

9.9.5 With the proposed mitigation measures, which include the preservation of existing trees, compensatory planting, control of night-time lighting glare, erection of screen hoarding in visually unobtrusive colour, management of construction activities and facilities, reinstatement of temporarily disturbed landscape area, it is predicted that there would be slight residual impact during construction as there will be permanent loss of existing trees which are not able to be fully compensated. During operation, with the implementation of mitigation measures, which include aesthetically pleasing design of above ground structures, amenity tree and shrub planting and screen planting (with climber) to soften the structural columns of the elevated platform, as illustrated in the photomontage in Figure 9.5, it is predicted that the residual impact on the visitors to Lai Chi Yuen Cemetery would remain slight in day 1 and year 10 of the operation.

9.10 Environmental Monitoring and Audit

9.10.1 The detailed design of the Project shall be undertaken so as to ensure compliance with the landscape and visual mitigation measures described in Section 9.8.

9.10.2 A baseline review shall be undertaken at the commencement of the construction contracts to update the status of landscape resources, character areas and visually sensitive receivers.

9.10.3 Implementation of the recommended mitigation measures would be regularly audited during construction phase. Details of environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) requirement are discussed in the separate EM&A Manual.

9.11 Conclusion

9.11.1 It is considered that the residual landscape and visual impact is acceptable with mitigation measures implemented during construction and operation phases.

9 landscape and visual impact

9.1 Introduction

9.1.1 This section presents the findings of the assessment of potential landscape and visual impacts associated with the Project.

9.1.2 Landscape and visual impacts assessment are assessed in accordance with the criteria and guidelines as stated in Annexes 10 and 18 of the TM and the EIAO Guidance Note No. 8/2010 on "Preparation of Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance".

9.1.4 Detailed description of the Project is discussed in Section 2 of this Report.