1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

1.1.1 The Shenzhen Western Corridor (SWC) (the Project) is a dual-3 lane carriageway, in the form of an elevated structure with hard shoulders, linking the proposed Deep Bay Link (DBL) to the section of SWC within the boundary of the Mainland. The proposed highway would be the fourth boundary road crossing providing relief to the traffic congestion at the existing boundary crossings.

1.1.2 The responsibility for implementing the portion of the SWC within the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) shall rest with the Government of the HKSAR (HKSARG). Before this division of responsibility was determined, the Mainland authorities had already conducted some engineering feasibility studies on the SWC since 1995. In this regard, a number of different alignment options for the SWC had been considered. With regard to the structural form of the crossing, the investigation mainly covered the elevated structure option and only few covered the tunnel option.

1.1.3 On 21st August 2001, Highways Department of the HKSARG commissioned Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited (Arup) as the Consultants to undertake the Investigation and Planning Assignment of Shenzhen Western Corridor under Agreement No. CE 39/2001 (the Project). Environmental Management Limited (EML) is the environmental sub-consultant of Arup to undertake the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in relation to the construction and operation of the Project and related concurrent activities.

1.1.4 The study area envelope for the proposed alignments covers a corridor in Deep Bay and a strip of land along north-western territory of the HKSAR. Both elevated structure and tunnel option had been considered in earlier studies and the structural form of the highway was assumed to be an elevated structure. The north alignment is the bridge option whilst the south alignment is the tunnel option. The locations of the proposed alignments are shown in Figure 1.1.

1.1.5 The section of the highway within the Hong Kong waters is about 3.2 km in length and will be connected to the portion of about 2 km in length to be provided by the Shenzhen authorities. The proposed landing location of the bridge in Shenzhen will be located at Dongjiaotou. The proposed highway will be connected to Deep Bay Link on the Hong Kong side. Under the Deep Bay Link project, there would be two landing locations of the highway on the Hong Kong side. One alternative is at Ngau Hom Shek and the other at Ngau Hom Sha. The north alignment (Option A and B), which connects between Dongjiaotou and Ngau Hom Shek, is a bridge option. The south alignment (Option C and D), which connects between Dongjiaotou and Ngau Hom Sha, is a tunnel option. All the permanent works for the SWC project will mostly be located offshore with certain activities to be carried out on land in the works areas and along the access roads.

1.2 Objectives of the EIA Study

1.2.1 The objectives of the EIA study are:

(1) to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements for carrying out the Project;

(2) to identify and describe elements of community and environment likely to be affected by the Project and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the Project, including natural and man-made environment and the associated environmental constraints;

(3) to consider alternatives with a view to avoiding and minimizing the potential environmental impacts to the ecological sensitivity areas in Deep Bay and other sensitive uses; to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of each of the different options; to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to describe the part of environmental factors played in the selection;

(4) to identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

(5) to identify and quantify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(6) to identify and quantify any potential losses or damage to flora, fauna and natural habitats and to propose measures to mitigated these impacts;

(7) to identify any negative impacts on site of cultural heritage and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(8) to propose the provision of mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;

(9) to investigate the feasibility, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;

(10) to identify, predict and evaluate the residual environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable mitigation) and the cumulative effects expected to arise during the construction and operation phases of the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

(11) to identify, assess and specify methods, measures and standards, to be included in the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project which are necessary to mitigate these environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to acceptable levels;

(12) to investigate the extent of the secondary environmental impacts that may arise from the proposed mitigation measures and to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA study, as well as the provision of any necessary modification; and

(13) to design and specify environmental monitoring and audit requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.

1.3 Considerations of Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance

1.3.1 An EIA study brief detailing the key issues of the SWC project was issued by the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) under section 5(7)(a) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO). The Hong Kong section of SWC is a designated project under the EIAO. An environmental permit is required before construction and operation of the project.

1.3.2 A detailed EIA needs to be carried out to provide information on the environmental impacts arising from the construction and operational phases of the Project. Approval of the EIA by the DEP is required.

1.3.3 The Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM) issued by Environmental Protection Department (EPD) specifies the assessment methods and criteria for environmental impact assessment. Criteria for evaluation and guideline for assessment of environmental impacts are specified in the EIAO-TM. This EIA study follows the EIAO-TM to assess the environmental impacts associated with the Project.

1.4 Structure of the EIA Report

1.4.1 This EIA Report is presented in three volumes. Volume 1 contains full text of the EIA report and Volume 2 includes all the figures. Appendices are contained in Volume 3. The structure of Volume 1 of this EIA Report is outlined as follows: