Executive Summary of Environmental Baseline Report

In addition to the four primary elements of natural capital stock, four subsidiary values may also be defined as follows:

• Scientific values have been defined as environmental features or resources which are being researched or are regarded as potential subjects for research. The resource might also include features which, due to their natural resource value or uniqueness, offer particular importance for research and/or education.
• Existence values are derived from environmental and other natural resource features which are appreciated by society (ie they place a value on them) irrespective of any other natural capital stock functions they may offer. Existence values are called 'non-use' values since they suggest that the natural capital stock has a value but that this is not associated with actual use.
• Recreational functions may be defined as those features of the natural environment which serve as amenity and educational resources for human beings by virtue of their natural characteristics.
• The landscape function of the natural capital stock may be defined as those environmental features which provide scenic or aesthetic values.

These additional functions of the natural capital stock effectively form subsidiary values which may be attributed to some of the elements of the natural resources, ecological resources, heritage resources and assimilative capacity natural capital stock.

Areas of scientific value are closely related to areas of ecological importance such as Mai Po Marshes as well as to areas of important or unique habitat and heritage resources of significance. Impacts to the integrity of these resources will also affect scientific values since such resources remain imperfectly understood.

Existence values are derived from resources and features which are valued by society. In the absence of specific studies on such non-use'values in Hong Kong, it is likely that natural and ecological resources, environmental quality (eg of rivers, seas and air) and heritage resources will all carry an existence value which will be reduced when such resources are impacted, although not proportionally.

Recreational values may be applied to elements of the natural capital stock which have some value for amenity and education such as open space, Country Parks, beaches and nature reserves. As with the other resources, the value of recreational features is closely associated with its quality.

Hong Kong has a huge diversity of both developed (cityscape) and undeveloped landscape by virtue of its geological, topological, ecological, climatic and human influences. Whilst several studies have characterised parts of the landscape of Hong Kong there is currently no overall landscape appraisal of the SAR although it is understood that Planning Department will be commissioning a study to more fully assess landscape and scenic areas. There is currently no formal coherent system of protection for important landscapes in Hong Kong and impacts from sporadic, unchecked or visually inappropriate development are therefore the most significant threat to landscape value.