Cuttings courtesy of WWF HK. Taken from newspapers in the period August to December 1998. Readers are invited to comment or elaborate on any of the news items. All scientific names are given by the editors.
Development \ HK
EIAs, project profiles and progress of all major development projects in HK are available on "http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/eia/". Up to the end of November 1998, 33 project profiles; 4 EIA reports; 16 EIA briefs and 9 environmental permits issued by EPD have been uploaded to this web page. (Ming Pao, 07/12/98)
The Town Planning Board (TPB) recently rejected a planning application for low-rise residential development at Ting Kok, Tai Po. The 3.2 ha agricultural land is on the opposite side of the Ting Kok SSSI along Ting Kok Road. The planning application was rejected because the proposed development was too close to the SSSI and sewage discharges would significantly affect the nearby environment. (Oriental Daily, 17/11/98)
The West Rail project will directly affect 12ha of fish pond, stream and freshwater marshland, and 60 ha of agricultural lands in Kam Tin Valley. Fifteen to 20 ha of the latter are wetland. However, the EIA report of this project only recommended mitigating 12 ha of fish pond, stream and freshwater wetland and did not consider wet agricultural land as important wildlife habitats. (HK Standard, 28/07198). The mitigation measure involves recreating more than 12 ha of wetland for birds and frogs and the developer, KCRC, will provide long-term management for the re-created wetlands (SCMP, 26/10/98)
The Town Planning Board (TPB) rejected an objection raised by a land-owner at Wu Kau Tang against zoning his land as conservation area. The Wu Kau Tang Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) published in May 1997 zoned 85% (about 88ha) of Wu Kau Tang as conservation area in order to protect special dragonfly species and the Sheun Wan water gathering ground. The rest of Wu Kau Tang is zoned as green belt and village type development (i.e. Ding Uk). Several developers, including New World Development, acquired a lot of farmland at Wu Kau Tang many years ago and once intended to develop a golf course there. Now, about one-third of the conservation area is privately owned. (Apple Daily, 25/08/98)
The Town Planning Board (TPB) continued the discussion on the ten objections to the Sha Lo Tung Development Permission Area (DPA) Plan on Friday 4 December 1998. However, TPB failed to make a decision due to opposing views on conservation and development. TPB decided not to amend the DPA but will submit the DPA plan together with the development proposals and the objection papers to the Chief Executive in Council for consideration. Regarding the Sha Lo Tung DPA plan, the Sha Lo Tung Development Company strongly supports more development but the Green Groups recommend reinforcing the zonation efforts at Sha Lo Tung. According to TPB, the DPA plan must be replaced by an Outline Zoning Plan (OZP) three years after its enactment. As such, any objections to the DPA plan (whether for or against more development) must be submitted to the TPB for consideration. Sha Lo Tung DPA plan was enacted on 24 January 1997 and will be replaced by an OZP in the year 2000. By then, the future land use of Sha Lo Tung will become clear. (Ming Pao, 08/12/98)
Development / China
Drainage Services Department admitted that Shenzhen Government had mentioned their plan to connect Shenzhen River with Mirs Bay. However, no details are yet available. It was said that this plan was highly beneficial to transportation between the east and west of Shenzhen and would also increase the flushing in Shenzhen River. On the other hand, this project would have a devastating effect on the Deep Bay ecosystem if the highly saline water in Mirs Bay flushes into Deep Bay. (Apple Daily, 23/08/98)
HK Conservation