Legislation for Environmental Impact Assessment
The Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) was implemented on 1 April 1998. Its purpose is to avoid, minimise and control the adverse impact on the environment of designated projects, through the application of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and the environmental permit (EP) system.
The Ordinance applies to certain types of projects, called "designated projects", which are contained in two schedules. The designated projects in both schedules must go through the statutory EIA process, but only those listed in Schedule 2 require environmental permits. General guidance on the EIAO is provided in the booklet "A Guide to the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance" published by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and available on the EIAO web site (http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia).
Public involvement in the statutory EIA process is a key feature of the Ordinance and a big step forward in the history of EIAs in Hong Kong. Detailed information, such as project profiles, study briefs, EIA reports, environmental permits, the Ordinance and Regulations, and guiding materials are available to the public on the EIAO web site.
Copies of the Ordinance and the Regulations are on sale at the Government Publications Centre. Copies of prescribed forms, the guidebook and the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process are available at the EIAO Register Office of the EPD (27/F., Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong) and the EIAO web site.
Legislation for Environmental Impact Assessment in Effect as at 31 December 2005
| Legislation | Description of Control | |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap. 499) | Provides for a statutory EIA process to avoid, minimise and control the adverse impacts of designated projects through the application of the EIA process and the EP system. |
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| Environmental Impact Assessment (Appeal Board) Regulation |
Provides for the setting up of an appeal mechanism and the procedures of the Appeal Board. |
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| Environmental Impact Assessment (Fees) Regulation | Prescribes the application fees that are payable for applications made under the EIAO. |
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| Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule 2) Order 1999 | Amends Part I of Schedule 2 to the EIAO (Cap.499) by adding theme parks and amusement parks with a site area of more than 20 ha in size as designated projects. |
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Details of the above Ordinance and Regulations can be found in the "Bilingual Laws Information System" web site of the Department of Justice at http://www.legislation.gov.hk/.
