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Letter to the Editor of A45 dated 16 May 2006 -- Response to an article entitled "Tamar: A fait accompli"
In response to the article entitled "Tamar: A fait accompli" by Mandy Tam (A45, May 4, 2006), I wish to clarify a few points for the benefit of your readers.
As has been explained in the Government's submission to the Legislative Council Panel on Planning, Lands and Works, on 25 April and 11 May 2006, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Central Reclamation Phase III (CR III) has fully taken into account the impact of existing and proposed buildings in the area. It is inappropriate to suggest that clear or flat land was assumed in the EIA report.
The EIA Report for CR III, which was completed in 2001, in fact covered the existing, committed and planned developments including the proposed Central Government Complex at the Tamar site. Section 2 of the EIA report has specifically stated that commercial and office buildings and a number of hotels dominate the urban area surrounding the CR III site. The building layout and heights have been taken into account in the EIA study.
After going through public consultation between July and August 2001 under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), the report was endorsed by the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE), the Government's principal advisory body on matters relating to environmental protection and nature conservation, in August 2001. Under the EIAO, the Director of Environmental Protection is required to take into account the ACE's comments on EIA reports during the statutory public inspection period. The report has also been made available at the EIAO website since 2001. It was concluded in the EIA report that the predicted air quality impact can meet the air quality standards.
The air quality assessment was conducted in accordance with the established assessment methodologies accepted in Hong Kong and internationally, and is a reliable assessment method. It has already taken into account the effects of the buildings on the predicted air quality and has not underestimated the impact of the Tamar project on air quality.
According to the most recent estimate of the Transport Department, the Tamar development would attract no more than 581 and 406 passenger car units in the morning and afternoon peak periods respectively, and the associated air quality impact would not be significant.
The Government spares no efforts in improving our air quality and will continue to take vigorous measures on all fronts to achieve this, including tackling local emissions such as vehicle emissions, and working closely with Guangdong with a view to achieving emissions reduction targets by 2010.
Elvis W K Au
Assistant Director (Environmental Assessment)
for Director of Environmental Protection
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