Appendix A

Au Tau Sewage Pumping Station
(Application No. DIR-026/1999)

Au Tau Sewage Pumping Station
Application for Permission to Apply Directly for Environmental Permit
(Application No. DIR-026/1999)

Date of the Director's Decision : 31 January 2000

Reasons for Not Giving Permission to Apply Directly for Environmental Permit Not Meeting the Requirements of the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process (TM)

1. The proposed pumping station is located within an agricultural zone with lotus ponds and wetland. The lotus ponds and wetland habitat are identified to be of medium to high ecological value in the endorsed Final EIA Report of the Yuen Long Bypass Floodway Feasibility Study (EIAO Register No. EIA - 004/1998) which has been placed on the Register under the EIA Ordinance. Based on the footprint of the proposed pumping station, there is a potential for a permanent loss of about 0.3 ha of lotus pond/wetland habitat, and the project would likely result in an adverse ecological impact.

2. The ecological impacts of the proposed Sewage Pumping Station have not been assessed. It has not been demonstrated that measures have been taken to avoid adverse environmental impacts. The ecological mitigation measures have not been properly identified, defined and evaluated. The requirements in Sections 4 and 5 of the TM, have not been met.

3. Based on the proposed location and design of the project and described in the project profile in view of the environmental sensitivity of the area in question, an EIA study is necessary to properly assess the outstanding environmental issues described above and to determine the environmental acceptability of the project.

Note :
Under section 17 of the EIA Ordinance, the applicant may appeal to the Appeal Board against the Director's decision within 30 days of receipt of this reply.