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Press
Releases - 2000
Lok
Ma Chau spur line EIA report rejected
The Director
of Environmental Protection (DEP) today (October 16) decided
not to approve the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report
for the Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line and not to issue
an Environmental Permit for the Project.
A spokesman
for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said: "In
making his decision, the DEP has carefully considered the
225 sets of public submissions received during the public
inspection period of the report and the comments of the Advisory
Council on the Environment (ACE).
"He has
also taken into consideration the further information submitted
by the Kowloon Canton Railway Corporation on September 18
and the advice of the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation. He also has had regard to his statutory responsibilities
for protecting the environment under the Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (EIAO)."
"After
taking all these views and information into account, the DEP
has concluded that the construction of the spur line is likely
to cause adverse environmental impacts to Long Valley which
is an area of high ecological value with a high diversity
of birds," the spokesman noted.
Many
of the proposed measures to mitigate the environmental impacts
during the construction stage are unlikely to be practical
or effective. Serious fragmentation, significant disturbance
and habitat destruction are likely to happen when construction
works are being carried out.
The proposed
temporary wetland is unlikely to compensate adequately for
habitat loss during the construction stage and the impact
of the project on the environment is likely to be greater
than predicted.
In addition,
the cumulative environmental impacts of the project and other
existing, committed and planned projects have not been properly
addressed.
The DEP
is of the view, in light of the comments received from the
public and the ACE, that it has not been proven that there
are no other practical and reasonable alternatives.
Overall,
the DEP is of the view that the environmental impacts to be
caused by the project are likely to be prejudicial to the
health or well being of the flora, fauna or ecosystems in
the areas to be affected by the project.
The reasons
for rejecting the EIA report are available for public viewing
at the EIAO public register on the 27th floor of Southorn
Centre, 130 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai.
They
will be uploaded onto the EIAO website at http://www.info.gov.hk/epd/eia
tomorrow (October 17).
End/Monday,
October 16, 2000
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