1 Introduction

1.2 Scope of this Project

1.2.1 This Project is to conduct for timely completion of all the necessary studies, inquiries and assessments for the Technical Study for the purpose of supporting the preparation of OZP for the FGC site and coming up with the recommended Infrastructure Works and the respective implementation schedules supporting the proposed Developments.

1.2.2 The Project includes the following major tasks:

(a) To formulate preferred development layout and intensities through evaluation of development options and propose associated infrastructure to support the developments;

(b) To formulate a Broad Land Use Plan to serve as basis for technical assessment and a Recommended Landscape Plan;

(c) To conduct various technical assessments including preliminary traffic and transport impact assessment and other preliminary engineering / technical assessments to confirm feasibility of the Board Land Use Plan;

(d) To carry out environmental impact assessment under Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO);

(e) To confirm the feasibility of engineering works;

(f) To conduct the associated site investigation works; and

(g) To consult relevant stakeholders.

1.3 EIA Study Brief

1.3.1 In accordance with the requirements of Section 5(1)(a) of the Technical Memorandum – Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO-TM), an application (No. ESB-318/2019) for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study Brief was submitted to Environmental Protection Department (EPD) on 29 May 2019 with a Project Profile (PP-583/2019). Pursuant to Section 5(7)(a) of the EIA Ordinance, the Director of Environmental Protection issued to the Project Proponent, namely CEDD, an EIA Study Brief (EIA Study Brief No: ESB-318/2019 dated 9 July 2019) to carry out an EIA Study.

1.4 Designated Project

1.4.1 The proposed Development Area has a study area of about 32 ha. It falls within Item 1 under Schedule 3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), i.e. "Engineering feasibility study of urban development projects with a study area covering more than 20 ha or involving a total population of more than 100,000" and is therefore a Designated Project (DP) requiring an EIA report.

1.4.2 Based on the current information, the Project does not include any individual work items that fall under Schedule 2 of the EIAO.

1.5 Potential Development Area

1.5.1 The Potential Development Area (PDA) covers approximately 32 hectares (ha), as shown in Figure 1.1, is bounded by Ping Kong Road to its northeast, Po Kin Road to its north, Fan Kam Road to its northwest and west, rural settlements of Ping Kong to its east, Tai Lung Experimental Farm and a green hillock to its southeastern and southern ends.

1.5.2 The PDA is divided into four areas: Sub-Area 1 which is located at the northernmost part of PDA and extended up to the edge of woodland adjacent to the Fanling Raw Water Pumping Station; Sub-Area 2 which is bounded by the aforesaid woodland and the access road of On Po; Sub-Area 3 which is bounded by the existing access road of On Po in the north and the narrow edge adjacent to Tai Lung Experimental Farm; and Sub-Area 4 which is bounded by the southern edge of Sub-Area 3 and the site boundary of PDA.

1.5.3 Having assessed and evaluated the various development options, housing development is only proposed at Sub-Area 1. This will be further elaborated in the following chapters.

1.6 Project Benefits, Green and Environmental Initiatives

Project Benefits

1.6.1 The project intends to ease the urging demand for housing development. The proposed development would plan for a balanced community to optimize the use of the scarce land resources to serve the urgent housing need as well as to provide community facilities to the neighborhood.

1.6.2 In formulating the proposed developments for the Project, consideration has been given to the views and comments made by the local communities and the stakeholders, guiding principles and overall development strategies including urban design. Technical and environmental assessments on traffic, engineering, air quality, noise, water quality, waste management, land contamination, sewerage, cultural heritage, landscape and visual, ecology, etc. have been conducted and mitigation measures were recommended. The development has stroke a balance between the environment, economy as well as the pressing housing needs. The benefits of this Project are broadly described as follows:-

· Relieving Housing Demand – The proposed housing development will provide approximate 12,000 housing units, subject to the ratio of public rental housing (PRH) and subsidized sale flats (SSF), which could accommodate approximately 33,600 population, alleviating scarcity of housing supply.

· Creating Recreation cum Conservation Area – With a concept to preserving the precious environment, Sub-Area 2 to 4 will be converted to form a recreation cum conservation area for public enjoyment and relaxation. Recreational and ancillary facilities with minimal new structure/change to existing site conditions would only be provided in Sub-Area 2 to 3. No works would be carried out in Sub-Area 4.

· Community Enhancement – Commercial and retail facilities will be provided within the proposed development sites to serve the planned population as well as the nearby community. A Public Transport Interchange (PTI), pedestrian walkway and cycling track will be provided near Ping Kong Road which could also serves the nearby villagers and residents.

· Government, Institution and Community (G/IC) Facilities – Various educational facilities (e.g. kindergartens etc.) as well as social welfare facilities comprising Neighbourhood Elderly Centres (NECs), Residential Care Home for the Elderly (RCHE) cum Day Care Unit (DCU), Child Care Centre (CCC), Day Activity Centre (DAC), Hostel for Severely Mentally Handicapped Persons (HSMH), Hostel for Moderately Mentally Handicapped Persons (HMMH), Supported Hostel for Mentally Handicapped Persons (SHOS(MH)), Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Services Centre (VRSC) and Hostel for Severely Physically Handicapped Persons (HSPH) have been planned in the proposed development. The proposed G/IC facilities are anticipated to alleviate the increasing welfare and educational demand at Fanling area and the needs arising from the proposed developments.

Green and Environmental Initiatives

1.6.3 The vision of the Project is to create a sustainable, green and liveable community provided with supporting infrastructure to cater for future development needs. Environmental considerations are one of the key factors in the formulating of development of PDA. Throughout the development formulation, appreciation has been made to the potential environmental initiatives both to conserve existing environmental resources and, where opportunities exist, to enhance and upgrade the environment on various aspects. The major green and environmental initiatives that this Project offers are summarized in below paragraphs.

1.6.4 Recently, there are increasing awareness in sustainable development. This Project has duly considered the sustainable strategy in respect of town planning, urban design, transportation and blue-green infrastructure for a creation of a sustainable local community. When formulating the development layout of PDA, the adoption of green building design, energy-efficient features and renewable energy technologies within the PDA has been promoted.

1.6.5 In addition to green transport management, a comprehensive water management system including sewerage, drainage and water resources infrastructure has been recommended. Blue-green infrastructures, such as porous pavement and green roofs have been considered. Besides, the use of reclaimed water for flushing has been explored to promote the sustainable use of water.

1.6.6 The various habitats with conservation importance in Sub-Area 2 to 4 will be preserved under the Project as far as practicable to maintain the local character and fringe between urban and rural areas. Besides, screen planting, green roof and corresponding landscape works such as planting of climbers, shrubs, etc. would also be recommended in the housing development.

1.6.7 For the aspect of solid waste management, the amount of municipal solid waste generated and disposed of can be minimised through on-site waste management plan including local recycling of organic waste, local recycling of glass for building blocks production and source separation of recyclables. Also, the adoption of automatic refuse collection system will be investigated to reduce fuel use, odour and noise of waste transport.

1.6.8 Green energy saving will also be adopted when appropriate. Measures include encouraging the use of energy-efficient building design and materials, promoting certification under BEAM Plus or other equivalent accreditations, exploration of community gardens in open space and amenity areas to promote green living, deploying energy-saving installations such as solar hot water system, etc

1.7 Concurrent Projects

1.7.1 In order to assess the cumulative impacts, a review of the best available information at the time of this EIA report to identify the concurrent projects in the vicinity that are undergoing planning, design, construction and/or operation within the construction and/or operation period of the Study has been conducted and a list of the tentative concurrent projects identified at this stage is summarised in Table 1.1 below.

1.7.2 Various cumulative impacts for different concurrent projects have been identified and detailed justifications on consideration of various cumulative environmental impacts from individual concurrent projects have been included in the corresponding technical chapters.

1.7.3 The locations of these concurrent projects are shown in Figure 1.2.

Table 1.1 Concurrent Projects

Concurrent Project	Project Proponent	Tentative Construction Commencement	Target Operation/ Target Completion of Development
Concurrent Project	Project Proponent	Tentative Construction Commencement	Target Operation/ Target Completion of Development
Potential Housing Developments in North District - Ching Hiu Road	CEDD	2022	2030
Potential Housing Developments in North District - Tai Tau Leng	CEDD	2025	2032
North District Hospital Extension	ArchSD/ HA	2021	2030
Drainage Improvements at North District	DSD	2021	2027
Fanling Highway Widening	CEDD	2024	2031
Po Shek Wu Flyover	CEDD	2024	2029
Road Improvement Works at Fan Kam Road	HyD	N/A ^(a)	N/A ^(a)
Fanling Area 36 Phase 4 (Ching Ho Extension)	CEDD	2020	2024
Private Housing Development at Lot 4076 in D.D. 91	Private Developer	N/A ^(a)	2028
Reclaimed Water Supply to Sheung Shui and Fanling – Investigation, Design and Construction	WSD	2020	2025
Sheung Shui Lot 2RP in DD 92, Sheung Shui	Private Developer	N/A ^(a)	2023
So Kwun Po Interchange ^(b)	CEDD	2025	2030
Retrofitting of Noise Barriers on Po Shek Wu Road	EPD	2024	2028

Note:

(a) The commencement/ completion of construction is not available.

(b) As advised by CEDD, construction details (e.g. plant inventory) are not yet available. EIA Study will be commenced shortly in 2021.

1.8 Objective of the EIA Report

1.8.1 The objectives of this EIA Study are as follows:

(a) To describe the Project and associated works together with the requirements and environmental benefits for carrying out the Project;

(b) To identify and describe 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 associated environmental constraints;

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

(d) To identify and quantify any potential ecological and fisheries impacts arising from the construction and operation of the Project and to proposed measures to mitigate these impacts;

(e) To identify any potential landscape and visual impacts and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(f) To identify any negative impacts on sites of cultural heritage and to propose measures to mitigate these impacts;

(g) To propose measures/actions to avoid or minimize potential archaeological impacts if any archaeological remains are identified during the construction of the Project;

(h) To identify and quantify contaminated land within any Project area for development works, and to propose measures to avoid disposal in the first instance;

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

(j) 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;

(k) 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;

(l) 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;

(m) To identify, assess and evaluate the cumulative impacts arising from all the elements and works of the Project;

(n) To design and specify the environmental monitoring and audit requirements to ensure the implementation and the effectiveness of the environmental protection and pollution control measures adopted;

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

(p) to identify any additional studies necessary to implement the mitigation measures or monitoring and proposals recommended in the EIA report; and

(q) To identify DP(s) listed under Schedule 2 of the EIAO as part of the Project for assessment under the EIA study.

1.9 Structure of EIA Report

1.9.1 This EIA report presents the environmental impacts that may arise from the construction and operation of the Project and the associated mitigation measures, as follows:

Chapter	Title	Aims
1	Introduction	Introduces the project background and objectives of this Report
2	Project Description	Provides a description of the Project and summarises the consideration and selection of alternative options for development
3	Air Quality Impact	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for air quality impact
4	Noise Impact	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for noise impact
5	Water Quality Impact	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for water quality impact
6	Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Implications	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for sewerage and sewage treatment
7	Waste Management Implications	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for waste management
8	Land Contamination	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for land contamination evaluation
9	Ecological Impact	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for ecological impact
10	Fisheries Impact	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for fisheries impact
11	Landscape and Visual Impacts	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for landscape and visual impacts
12	Impact on Cultural Heritage	Presents the legislation, assessment methodology, impact assessment and mitigation measures required for cultural heritage impact
13	Environmental Monitoring and Audit Requirements	Summarises the EM&A requirements
14	Summary of Environmental Outcome	Summarises the key environmental outcomes arising from the EIA Study
15	Conclusion	Summarises the findings and concludes the overall acceptability of the Project