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Designated Projects

Based on more than ten years of experience in conducting environmental assessment studies for over hundreds of major development projects in Hong Kong, a list of designated projects was drawn up for the EIA Ordinance to ensure that projects or proposals that have significant environmental impact are subject to the statutory assessment process.

Designated projects range from large-scale developments such as the construction and operation of infrastructure projects to decommissioning of heavy industrial facilities. No less important are smaller projects that include activities within the sensitive boundaries of gazetted country parks, conservation areas, marine parks or reserves as well as sites of special scientific interest and cultural importance.

Designated projects are structured in two different schedules under the Ordinance.

River Trade Terminal at Tuen Mun	Tseung Kwan O Reclamation
Power Station at Penny's Bay	Hong Kong's first public golf course at Kau Sai Chau

Schedule 2 includes roads and railways, port and marine facilities, waterways and drainage works and other major infrastructure, residential and industrial developments. Such projects must follow the EIA process and also obtain environmental permits before work may begin.

Schedule 3 includes mainly engineering feasibility studies of large scale developments that must also follow the statutory EIA process. Such projects require approval of their EIA reports, but are not required to obtain environmental permits.

To cater for changing circumstances and needs, the designated project list may be amended by the Secretary for the Environment and Food by order published in gazette to include any new class of projects as designated projects. This provision was invoked in July 1999 to add a new class of designated project to Schedule 2 that includes theme parks and amusement parks with a site area of more than 20 hectares.

As contiguous projects can collectively qualify as a single designated project, any person can also seek confirmation from the Director under section 4(5) of the Ordinance to avoid possible offences.