AS part of the new airport development on Lantau, the Provisional Airport Authority (PAA) wishes to build a jetty for access to equipment on Lung Kwu-chau, a small island north of Lantau. Unfortunately, the site chosen, on the west of the island, is a known rest area for the rare and endangered Chinese White Dolphin (sousa chinensis). The building of the jetty and the resulting traffic will put additional and intolerable pressure on the range of this animal, already under threat from many other related projects and pollution in the area. An operationally and environmentally acceptable site exists on the east of the island, except that a few villagers on the mainland, four kilometres away, object, claiming an interference with the fung shui or 'place magic'. There is already an old jetty at the same site. Similarly, an aviation fuel facility is planned for the nearby island of Sha Chau, with the claim that there is no alternative. This too presents the prospect of disruptive interference with the dolphins rest and feeding from the building works and traffic. There is, however, an excellent alternative on the island of Guishan Dao, an existing oil terminal: it is not a sensitive site, a pipeline can be built quickly, and the proprietors see no problems. The PAA has offered demonstrably fictional excuses. Since The Hong Marine Conservative Society will not withdraw its objection to either proposal, the only recourse is for the PAA to appeal to the Hong Kong Executive Council for approvals to proceed. This will be done in secret and without notice. The society believes these to be crucial decisions: the dolphins are at risk. All efforts must be directed to persuading the Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, to refuse the appeals. Write, fax or phone the Governor, your Member of Parliament, Senator, Congressman, local government agencies or environmental groups to register your protest and demand action. Do it now - this is urgent. The Hong Kong Government does not care; show that you do. Chris Patten's fax no (+852) 2521 1868. For more information, please fax the society on (+852) 2548 9464. Dr B. W. DARVELL Chairman The Hong Kong Marine Conservation Society
