1       INTRODUCTION

 

1.1       Background of the EIA

1.1.1        A Joint User Complex and Wholesale Fish Market (WFM Complex) at Area 44 in Tuen Mun is proposed to be designed and built by the Architectural Services Department on behalf of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Marine Department, and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of the Hong Kong SAR. The WFM Complex is to provide a permanent site for the relocation of the existing temporary wholesale fish market at Tuen Mun Area 27 and to accommodate a community hall and other possible community uses for public use. The location of the subject site is shown in Figure 1.1. The proposed development is a 5-storey complex to accommodate the wholesale fish market at the ground floor, a community hall on the first floor, other possible community uses on the first, second, third and fourth floors and an extensive landscaped deck. The proposed site is located next to the nullah of the typhoon shelter and has in its vicinity residential dwellings, schools, a police station, open space sites, a clinic, an LPG compound, etc. The presence of noise and air sensitive receivers in the neighbourhood of the site warrants the assessment of possible environmental impacts. Also the LPG compound is a potential risk source and therefore a quantitative risk assessment will be required. The proposed Wholesale Fish Market is categorised as a designated project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and therefore requires a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment.

1.1.2        An application (No. ESB-061/2000) for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study brief under section 5(1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was submitted to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on 29th August 2000 with a Project Profile (No.PP-104/2000).

1.1.3        Pursuant to section 5(7)(a) of the EIAO, the Director of Environmental Protection (the Director) issued the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study brief on 11 October 2000 to the Applicant to carry out an EIA study.

1.1.4        The purpose of this EIA study is to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impact arising from the construction and operation of the proposed work Wholesale Fish Market. This information will contribute to decisions by the Director on:

(i)                  the overall acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the proposed project;

(ii)                the conditions and requirements for the detailed design, construction and operation of the proposed project to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences wherever practicable; and

(iii)               the acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are implemented.

 

1.2       Objectives of the EIA Study

1.2.1    The objectives of the EIA study are:

(i)                  to describe the proposed project and associated works in detail together with the requirements for carrying out the proposed project;

(ii)                to identify and describe the elements of the community and environment likely to be affected by the proposed project and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the proposed project, including both the natural and man-made environment;

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

(iv)              to propose the provision of mitigation measures so as to minimise pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the project;

(v)                to identify, predict and evaluate the residual environmental impacts 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 users;

(vi)              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 minimise any environmental impacts as far as practicable and reducing them to acceptable levels;

(vii)             to investigate the extent of side-effects of the proposed mitigation measures that may lead to other forms of impacts;

(viii)           to identify constraints associated with the mitigation measures recommended in the EIA study;

(ix)              to design and specify environmental monitoring and audit requirements, if required, to ensure the implementation and the effectiveness of the environmental protection and pollution control measures adopted; and

(x)                to consider alternative site(s) and to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of each site in selecting a preferred site.

 

1.3       Approach of the Assessment

1.3.1        In order to address the environmental concerns mentioned in Section 1.2 above, the EIA study has made reference to the operation of the existing Castle Peak Wholesale Fish Market (CPFM) at Area 27 in Tuen Mun in addressing the likely key issues including air quality impacts, noise impacts, water quality impacts, waste management and hazard evaluation.

1.3.2        Air quality impacts arising from construction and operation of the development including, odour impact, air emission from marine vessels accessing to and from the WFM as well as vehicular emissions from nearby roads to nearby sensitive receivers including the WFM Complex of the subject development.

1.3.3        Noise impacts arising from construction and operation of the development, including both on-site and off-site operation activities such as idling vehicles noise, human shouting, using of public addressing equipment, manoeuvring and mooring of marine vessels etc., which normally take place at the early hours of morning.

1.3.4        Water quality impacts during construction and operation, including sewage treatment and disposal systems, and land drainage and stormwater system.

1.3.5        Waste management relating to construction and operation of the development.

1.3.6        The hazard to life in the WFM Complex due to the LPG store northwest of the proposed development.