1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background

1.1.1.1 The Kai Tak Development (KTD) is a major development project covering the ex-Kai Tak Airport located in Kowloon City and Kwun Tong. The KTD Area has a mix of residential, community, business, tourism and infrastructural uses. The New Acute Hospital (NAH), which has commenced foundation works at Sites 3C1(A) and 3C1(B) in the Former South Apron area of KTD, will be a major acute hospital in central Kowloon providing a comprehensive range of acute hospital services, with modern service models, technology and facilities.

1.1.1.2 The NAH is proposed to serve the general public for meeting the demand for medical services arising from the growing and ageing population in Kowloon. In addition to its strategic location and role delineation in accordance to the long-term Clinical Services Plan for Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC) by the Hospital Authority (HA), the NAH will also be a designated trauma centre to cater for critically ill patients with emergency conditions and respond to major incidents with multiple casualties. The new hospital will comprise an Accident & Emergency Department (AED), an oncology centre and provide enhanced neuroscience services, with a total planned capacity of around 2,400 in-patient and day beds and 37 operating theatres. The NAH will accommodate in-patient, out-patient and ambulatory services and provide services in support of the adjacent Hong Kong Children’s Hospital (HKCH).

1.2 Scope

1.2.1.1 In order to provide a rapid and seamless transfer of patients and survivors for prompt and appropriate treatment, and other medical emergency uses, it is essential for the hospital to have a helipad located in close proximity to the AED within the Acute Block of the NAH. The helipad will serve as an effective alternative to deliver a “quick response” by the medical team from the NAH. The helipad aims to enhance the emergency response for the scenes of incidents if a situation requires immediate rescue efforts.

1.2.1.2 Based on the above, it is proposed to construct and operate a helipad on the roof of the Acute Block of the NAH (“the Project”) to further enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the emergency response of the NAH. Major components of the helipad consist of an elevated helipad, and associated structures including covered safety walkway, associated egress staircase, noise barrier, etc. The location of the proposed helipad and its environs are shown in Figure 1.1.

1.3 Implementation

1.3.1.1 The proposed helipad is intended strictly for medical emergency use only. This service includes, Casualty Evacuation ((CASEVAC) A+ and Other CASEVAC), Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations (life-threatening condition) and urgent transportation of organs for transplantation by Government Flying Service (GFS). Commercial flights will not be allowed at the proposed helipad.

1.3.1.2 The proposed helipad is designed to be located at the rooftop of the Acute Block of the NAH, however it does not form as an integral part of the Acute Block of the NAH as both the construction and operation of the NAH will proceed independently. Environmental Study for the NAH has been conducted separately in the form of Preliminary Environmental Review (PER) for the NAH under the Public Works Programme (PWP) and will be updated; this is to ascertain the NAH’s environmental acceptability and propose mitigation measures as appropriate, based on the latest information. The PER for the foundation, excavation and lateral support and basement excavation works was carried out in 2018 and it will be updated to include the construction of superstructure and the operational phase of the NAH, which is tentatively scheduled for Q4 2021 and Q1 2025, respectively.

1.3.1.3 In September 2017, HA commissioned Wong Tung & Partners Ltd. (WTPL) as the Architectural Consultant for the Design of the NAH and the proposed helipad. Meinhardt Infrastructure and Environment Limited (MIEL) was simultaneously appointed by WTPL to provide consultancy services in respect of this Project including preparation of this Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study.

1.4 Designated Project under EIAO

1.4.1.1 The Project is a Designated Project by virtue of Item B.2 of Schedule 2, Part I of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), which specifies “A helipad within 300 m of existing or planned residential development”. Hence, an Environmental Permit (EP) is required for the construction and operation of the Project and an EIA Report has to be prepared for application for an EP.

1.4.1.2 A Project Profile was submitted to EPD on 10 January 2019 for the application of EIA Study Brief pursuant to section 5(1)(a) of the EIAO. Subsequently, an EIA Study Brief (ESB-311/2019) was issued by EPD on 19 February 2019.

1.4.1.3 This EIA Study is conducted for the Project in accordance with the requirements in the EIA Study Brief No. ESB-311/2019 issued for the Project and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process (TM-EIAO). This EIA Report is prepared on behalf of HA, who is the Project Proponent, for seeking approval under the EIAO.

1.5 Purpose of the EIA Study

1.5.1.1 The purpose of this EIA study is to provide information on the nature and extent of environmental impacts arises. It will review the construction and the operation of the Project and any associated works that may take place concurrently. This information will allow the Director of the Environmental Protection (DEP) to determine:

(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

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

1.6 Objectives of the EIA Study

1.6.1.1 The objectives of the EIA study as defined in Section 2 of the EIA Study Brief for the Project are as follows:

(i) to describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the proposed project;

(ii) to identify and describe the elements of 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;

(iii) to provide information on the consideration of alternative siting, design, layout and configuration/orientation of the helipad, flight paths, and alternative types of helicopters, management measures diverting patients under different levels of emergency to alternative hospitals with a view to avoiding or minimizing potential environmental impacts to environmentally sensitive areas and sensitive uses; to compare the environmental benefits and dis-benefits of different options; to provide reasons for selecting the preferred option(s) and to describe the part that 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 and systematically evaluate any potential visual impact from the helipad and associated structures and lighting during operation of the Project and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

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

(vii) to investigate the feasibility, practicality, effectiveness and implications of the proposed mitigation measures;

(viii) to identify, predict and evaluate the residual (i.e. after practicable mitigation) environmental impacts and the cumulative effects expected to arise during 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 residual 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 the environmental monitoring and audit requirements to ensure the effective implementation of the recommended environmental protection and pollution control measures.

1.7 Use of Previously Approved EIA Reports

1.7.1.1 Previous EIA reports have been approved for some proposed helipads in Hong Kong and some infrastructure projects in the vicinity of this proposed Project. The following approved EIA reports have, therefore, been used as reference in this EIA Study:

· A Rooftop Helipad at the Proposed New Block of Queen Mary Hospital (Register No.: AEIAR-208/2017, approved in March 2017);

· Expansion of Heliport Facilities at Macau Ferry Terminal (Register No.: AEIAR-095/2006, approved in February 2006);

· Engineering Study for Police Facilities in Kong Nga Po – Feasibility Study, Hong Kong, 2016 (Register No.: AEIAR-201/2016, approved in October 2016);

· Helipad at Yung Shue Wan, Lamma Island (Register No.: AEIAR-094/2006, approved in January 2006); and

· Kai Tak Development (Register No.: AEIAR-130/2009, approved in March 2009);

· Kai Tak Multi-purpose Sports Complex (Register No.: AEIAR-204/2017, approved in January 2017);

· Peng Chau Helipad (Register No.: AEIAR-087/2005, approved in August 2005); and

· Trunk Road T2 (Register No.: AEIAR-174/2013, approved in September 2013).

1.8 Structure of the EIA Report

1.8.1.1 The EIA Report is divided into the following sections:

a) Section 1 presents the introduction to the EIA study;

b) Section 2 presents a description of the alternatives considered for the Project and the Project description;

c) Section 3 presents the air quality impacts due to the construction and operation of the Project;

d) Section 4 presents the hazard to life impact during the construction and operation of the Project due to potentially hazardous facilities;

e) Section 5 presents the noise impacts due to the construction and operation of the Project;

f) Section 6 presents the waste management implications arising from the construction and operation of the Project;

g) Section 7 presents the visual impact from the operation of the Project;

h) Section 8 presents the water quality impacts during construction and operation of the Project;

i) Section 9 outlines the recommended environmental monitoring and audit requirements;

j) Section 10 presents the summary of environmental outcomes; and

k) Section 11 presents the summary and conclusions.