1.1
The Shatin to Central Link (SCL) is one of the priority railways
recommended for implementation in the Railway Development Strategy 2000. It is
also one of the ten large-scale infrastructure projects announced by the Chief
Executive in his 2007-2008 Policy Address. MTR Corporation Limited (MTR) has
been entrusted to plan and design for this project.
1.2
From east to west, the SCL will link up the Ma On
Shan Line (MOL) and the West Rail Line allowing commuters to travel directly
from Wu Kai Sha to Tuen Mun. The north-south corridor will be formed by
extending the existing East Rail Line from Hung Hom
Station (HUH) across Victoria Harbour to the planned Exhibition Station (EXH),
where it will connect with the future North Island Line (NIL), and Admiralty
Station (ADM), allowing passengers to travel from Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau to Hong
Kong Island without having to switch trains. At ADM, interchanges will be
provided with the Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line and the proposed South Island
Line (East).
1.3
The SCL is strategically important for connecting the existing railway
lines into an integrated rail network. The east-west connection will allow the
setup of a 57km east-west corridor across the city connecting Wu Kai Sha with
Tuen Mun via
1.4
The Legislative Council Brief on the SCL submitted by the Transport and
Housing Bureau (THB) in March 2008 indicated that the SCL would be implemented
in two phases. The first phase would include the realignment work for the
existing EAL tracks from Mong Kok East Station (MKK)
to the new HUH and the extension of the MOL from Tai Wai Station to HUH. The
second phase would cover the section from HUH across the harbour to the
Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter (CBTS), EXH and then to ADM.
1.5
For the second phase, a key aspect of constructing the SCL inside the
CBTS will be the coordination of interfaces with the Central-Wan Chai Bypass
and Island Eastern Corridor Link (CWB) project of the Highways Department,
which involves the construction of cut-and-cover tunnel from temporary
reclamation in the CBTS. Since this will overlap with the target construction
period of SCL, there is a need to address how the SCL can be integrated with
the CWB tunnel works to minimize the extent and duration of temporary
reclamation for both projects in the CBTS in view of the feedback from consultation with stakeholders and users of the CBTS. Eventually, tunnel protection works for the
SCL at the CBTS is proposed to be undertaken by Highways Department together
with the main CWB works.
1.6
The SCL Protection Works and associated works at CBTS (hereinafter known
as “the Project”) involve the construction of a 160m tunnel box by
cut-and-cover method at the crossing above the CWB tunnels. Temporary
reclamation is required and will be authorized under the Foreshore and Sea-bed
(reclamations) Ordinance. With the presence of the Protection Works, future
construction of the SCL on both sides of the CWB tunnels is protected and
ensured feasible without damaging or unduly affecting the CWB tunnels which
could be operational by then. This arrangement will also minimize public
nuisance and impact to the surrounding environment as it can reduce the
reclamation area for subsequent construction of the SCL after CWB is completed.
Nevertheless, the Protection Works cannot serve to function for any railway
service or operation before the completion of SCL.
Designated Projects under
the EIAO
1.7
The Project is a Designated Project (DP) under Item C.12 (b), Part I of
Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) (Cap. 499) –
“A dredging operation which is less than 100m from a seawater intake point”. The
Project will be undertaken together by the CWB contractor. The temporary reclamation in the Project
together with that in the CWB project will be another designated project under
Item C.1, Part 1, Schedule 2 of the EIAO. The implementation of the Project therefore
requires an Environmental Permit (EP) under the EIAO.
1.8
An application for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief
was made to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the EIA Study
Brief No. ESB–213/2010 (ESB) for the Protection Works has been issued under the
EIAO. AECOM Asia Company Limited (AECOM)
was commissioned by the MTR as the Consultant to conduct this EIA study for the
Protection Works.
Purpose and Scope of the EIA Study
1.9
The purpose of the EIA Study is to provide information on the nature and
extent of environmental impacts arising from the Project. The information
obtained in the EIA Study will contribute to decisions on:
Ÿ the overall acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the Project and any phased implementation;
Ÿ the conditions and requirements for the detailed design and construction of the Project and any phased implementation to mitigate adverse environmental consequences wherever practicable; and
Ÿ the acceptability of residual impacts after the proposed mitigation measures are implemented.
1.10
The EIA study has been conducted and completed in accordance with the
requirements of the EIA Study Brief (ESB-213/2010) under the EIAO and the
guidelines on assessment methodologies provided in Annexes 12 to 19 of the
Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (EIAO-TM). The EIA Report has been prepared to:
Ÿ describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the Project;
Ÿ identify any individual designated project element(s) under Schedule 2 of the EIAO to be covered in the Project and to ascertain whether the findings of the EIA study have adequately addressed the environmental impacts of these project;
Ÿ 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 and the associated environmental constraints;
Ÿ present the consideration of alternatives/options of the Project with regard to avoiding and minimizing the potential environmental impacts on sensitive receivers; to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of the options, including design, location, scale of works, extent of reclamation/dredging, programme, phased implementation, sequence of works, timing of removal of the temporary reclamation, construction method, etc. of the Project; to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to describe the part that environmental factors played in the selection;
Ÿ identify and assess water quality impacts, waste management implications, noise impacts and air quality impacts; and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
Ÿ propose provision of mitigation measures so as to minimize pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction of the Project and any phased implementation;
Ÿ investigate the feasibility, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed avoidance or mitigation measures;
Ÿ identify, predict and evaluate the residual environmental impacts (i.e. after practicable mitigation) due to the Project and the cumulative effects expected to arise from the Project in relation to the sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;
Ÿ identify, assess and specify methods, measures and standards, to be included in the detailed design and implementation stage of the Project which are necessary to avoid or mitigate these environmental impacts and cumulative effects and reduce them to acceptable levels;
Ÿ 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
Ÿ design and specify the environmental monitoring and audit requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.
1.11
The assessment area for the EIA study, as specified in the EIA Study
Brief, includes:
Ÿ Water quality impact assessment – areas within 300m from the Project boundary and works area, covering the Victoria Harbour Water Control Zone.
Ÿ
Construction noise impact
assessment – areas within 300 m from the Project boundary. Subject to
Ÿ Construction dust impact assessment – area within 500m from the Project alignment and from any works sites, including works sites away from the Project alignment, proposed under the Project.
Ÿ Waste management implications – areas within the boundary of the Project site.
1.12
There is no previous EIA study conducted for the proposed Protection
Works. However, for the purpose of this EIA study, relevant findings of the
following approved EIA Reports have been reviewed and taken into account
whenever appropriate.
Ÿ Kai Tak Development (KTD) (EIAO Register No.: AEIAR-130/2009)
Ÿ Wan Chai Development Phase II and Central-Wan Chai Bypass (WDII & CWB) (EIAO Register No. AEIAR-125/2008)
Ÿ
Laying of
Ÿ Dredging Works for Proposed Cruise Terminal at Kai Tak (CT Dredging) (EIAO Register No.: AEIAR-115/2007)
Ÿ
Decommissioning of the
Ÿ Wan Chai Development Phase II Comprehensive Feasibility Study (WDIICFS) (EIAO Register No. AEIAR-042/2001)
Structure of the EIA Report
1.13
This EIA Report is organised as follows after
this introductory section:
Ÿ Section 2 presents a description of the Project, including alternative options considered for the Project.
Ÿ Section 3 assesses potential water quality impacts associated with the construction of the Project.
Ÿ Section 4 assesses potential air-borne noise impacts arising from the construction of the Project.
Ÿ Section 5 assesses potential dust impact arising from the construction of the Project.
Ÿ Section 6 assesses potential impacts associated with waste generation during construction of the project.
Ÿ Section 7 outlines the Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) requirements.
Ÿ Section 8 presents an Implementation Schedule of recommended mitigation measures for various environmental issues
Ÿ Section 9 presents the overall conclusion and summary of environmental outcomes.