1 Introduction

1.1 Background

1.1.1.1 Since 2000, the Tourism Commission (TC) has been implementing the Tourism District Enhancement Programme to enrich Hong Kong’s appeal to visitors. Lei Yue Mun (LYM), being one of the most popular tourist attractions in Hong Kong for its pleasant seaside ambience and excellent seafood, had been identified to accord priority for improvement under the Programme.

1.1.1.2 The TC completed a number of initial minor improvements along LYM waterfront in 2003 which included renovation of the LYM Sitting-Out Area, repaving of the footpath serving the seafood restaurants, construction of a ‘Pai Lau’, and provision of a taxi stand and coach lay-bys. The TC planned to further improve the facilities along the waterfront area in order to capitalize on the strengths of LYM and enhance its attractiveness.

1.1.1.3 As the Project will involve dredging operation less than 500m from the nearest boundary of an existing coastal protection area, it is classified as a designated project under Item C.12(a)(vii) in Part I, Schedule 2 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO):

“A dredging operation exceeding 500,000m³ or a dredging operation which is less than 500m from the nearest boundary of an existing or planned coastal protection area.”

1.1.1.4 A project profile (No. PP-525/2015) was submitted to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on 23 June 2015 and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief (No. ESB-287/2015) for the Project was issued by EPD on 30 July 2015.

1.1.1.5 AECOM Asia Company Limited (AECOM) was commissioned by Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) to undertake the EIA study for the Project under Agreement No. CE 54/2015 (EP) Lei Yue Mun Waterfront Enhancement Project – Environmental and Traffic Impact Assessment Studies – Investigation. The location of the Project site is shown in Figure 1.1.

1.2 Objectives of this EIA Study

1.2.1.1 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 associated works that will take place concurrently. This information will contribute to decisions on:

i. the overall acceptability of any adverse environmental consequences that are likely to arise as a result of the Project and associated works, and their staged implementation;

ii. the conditions and requirements for the detailed design, construction and operation of the Project and associated works, including taking into account their interconnection, co-existence and development programs, to mitigate against adverse environmental consequences; and

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

1.2.1.2 The objectives of the EIA study are as follows:

i. To describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the Project;

ii. 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;

iii. To identify and quantify emission sources, including air and gaseous emission, noise emission, wastewater emission and waste generation, and determine the significance of impacts on sensitive receivers and potential affected uses;

iv. To identify and quantify any potential losses or damage to flora, fauna and natural habitats;

v. To identify and systematically evaluate any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

vi. To propose the provision of infrastructure or mitigation measures so as to minimise pollution, environmental disturbance and nuisance during construction and operation of the Project;

vii. To investigate the feasibility, practicability, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;

viii. 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;

ix. 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;

x. 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

xi. 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 Structure of the EIA Report

1.3.1.1 After this introductory section, the remaining of this EIA Report is set out as follows:

· Section 2 – Project Description

· Section 3 – Air Quality Impact

· Section 4 – Noise Impact

· Section 5 – Water Quality Impact

· Section 6 – Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Implications

· Section 7 – Waste Management Implications

· Section 8 – Land Contamination

· Section 9 – Ecological Impact (Terrestrial and Marine)

· Section 10 – Fisheries Impact

· Section 11 – Landscape and Visual Impacts

· Section 12 – Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements

· Section 13 – Implementation Schedule of Recommended Mitigation Measures

· Section 14 – Conclusions