Opinion | Pollution makes proposed reclamation site unliveable

The Protection of the Harbour Ordinance that aims to limit reclamation in Victoria Harbour to preserve this unique asset of Hong Kong has inadvertently forced the government to look elsewhere to resolve the perennial problem of a shortage of land.

The pressing need for public and private housing, due to the influx of mainland immigrants as well as rising local demand, has pressured the government to reclaim land in other parts of Hong Kong. Official determination to find alternatives should have been reason to cheer. But the proposed reclamation sites leave much to be desired.

According to press reports and an analysis by the Institute of Surveyors' Lawrence Poon Wing-cheung, of the five proposed sites put forward by the government, only two are feasible options suitable for residential purposes. One is located in Ma Liu Shui, Sha Tin, and the other in Lung Kwu Tan, Tuen Mun.

Although the Sha Tin option has stirred strong opposition from some students and teachers of the nearby Chinese University, it doesn't seem that the plan would have any adverse environmental impact. On the other hand, the Tuen Mun option has obvious undesirable environmental and health elements.

I disagree with Poon that it's suitable for residential development. The proposed site, located between CLP's Black Point and Castle Peak power stations, is along the coastal waters of Lung Kwu Tan. To its northeast is the soon-to-be-full West New Territories landfill. And the government is expected to expand the landfill westwards, bringing it closer to the proposed reclamation site in Tuen Mun. It's not difficult to imagine how disgusting the air would be in winter with the prevailing northeasterly winds.

Lung Kwu Tan is also close to power stations, which are mostly coal-fired. Hence, air pollution is already a serious problem in that area.