1.1.1
The project is entitled “Hang
Hau Tsuen Channel at Lau Fau Shan” (hereinafter referred to as “the Project”). Figure
1.1 shows the location of the proposed Project.
1.1.2
The squatter area in the vicinity of the existing Hang Hau
Tsuen stream was cleared in 1997. The poor hydraulic performance of the Hang
Hau Tsuen stream is attributed partly to the siltation of the watercourse by
the remains of the former squatter structures, and also to the meandering
watercourse and the presence of an under-sized box culvert at
1.2
Location and Description
of the Project
1.2.1
The Project comprises the construction of a drainage channel,
box culvert, footbridges, maintenance access road, footpath and associated
drainage system at Hang Hau Tsuen in Lau Fau Shan,
1.3
Requirements under
the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance
1.3.1
The Project is a Designated Project (DP) under the Environmental
Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) (Cap.499) by virtue of I.1(b) (vi) of Schedule
2, Part I of the EIAO. The Project will discharge into an area within 300 m
from the nearest boundary of an existing Coastal Protection Area (CPA) land use
zoning (Figure 1.1).
1.3.2
In accordance with the EIAO, an EIA report is required to be
prepared to meet the requirements under the EIAO and for an Environmental
Permit to be obtained for the construction and operation of the Project.
1.3.3
An application (No. ESB-167/2007) for an EIA Study Brief
under section 5(1) of the EIAO was submitted on 7 June 2007 with a Project
Profile (No. PP-318/2007).
1.3.4
Pursuant to section 5(7)(a) of
the EIAO based on the project information given in the Project Profile, the
Director of Environmental Protection (the Director) issues an EIA Study Brief (ESB-167/2007)
in July 2007 to the Applicant to carry out an EIA study. A copy of the EIA
Study Brief is included in Appendix 1.
1.4
Purpose and
Objective of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study
1.4.1
The purpose of this EIA study is to provide information on
the nature and extent of environmental impacts arising from the construction
and operation of the Project and related activities taking place concurrently.
This information will contribute to decisions by the Director of Environmental
Protection on:
(i)
the
overall acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that are likely
to arise as a result of the Project;
(ii)
the
conditions and requirements for the detailed design, construction and operation
of the Project to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences wherever
practicable and reasonable; and
(iii)
the
acceptability of residual impacts after implementation of the proposed
mitigation measures.
1.4.2
The objectives of the EIA study are as follows:
(i)
to
describe the Project and associated works 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 Project and/or likely to cause adverse impacts to the
Project, including both the natural and man-made environment;
(iii)
to provide information on
consideration of alternatives to avoid and minimize potential environmental
impacts to environmentally sensitive areas and other sensitive uses; to compare
the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of each of different options; to
provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to describe the part
environmental factors played in the selection of preferred option(s);
(iv)
to
identify and quantify emission sources and determine the significance of
impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
(v)
to
identify any potential impacts from point and non-point pollution sources on
the identified water systems and sensitive receivers during the construction
and operation stages;
(vi)
to
identify and quantify any potential losses and damage to flora, fauna and
natural habitats and to propose measures to avoid or mitigate these impacts;
(vii) to identify and quantify any potential landscape and visual impacts and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers;
(viii)
to propose provision of infrastructure
or mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance
and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;
(ix)
to identify, predict and
evaluate the residual (i.e. after practicable mitigation) 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 uses;
(x)
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 reducing them to acceptable levels;
(xi)
to investigate the extent of
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
(xii)
To
design and specify the environmental monitoring and audit requirements, if
required, to ensure the implementation and the effectiveness of the
environmental protection and pollution control measures adopted.
1.5.1
The EIA study is conducted in accordance with the requirements
set out in the EIA Study Brief and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental
Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM).
1.6
Structure of the
EIA Report
1.6.1
The backgrounds, descriptions and justifications of this
Project are provided in Chapter 2. For each of the
environmental parameters that have been identified, assessment results and
mitigation measures are presented in the following sections.
·
Chapter 3 – Air Quality Impact Assessment
·
Chapter 4 – Noise Impact Assessment
·
Chapter 5 – Water Quality Impact Assessment
·
Chapter 6 – Waste Management
·
Chapter 7 – Ecological Impact Assessment
·
Chapter 8 – Fisheries Impact Assessment
·
Chapter 9 – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
·
Chapter 10 – Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements
·
Chapter 11 – Summary of Environmental Outcomes
·
Chapter 12 – Conclusion
1.6.2
The Implementation Schedule of the mitigation measures for
this Project and details pertaining to the impact assessment are attached in
the Appendices.