GREEN groups want the Government to reprimand the Provisional Airport Authority (PAA) for allowing preliminary drilling to start at a proposed fuel depot site.
Campaigners say the work at Sha Chau is illegal because an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the area is still in progress.
The waters around the island are home to the endangered Chinese white dolphin and conservationists predict the species will be extinct within five years if the scheme is approved.
In his policy address last October, Governor Chris Patten pledged to draw up legislation requiring an EIA to be carried out before development could begin. Although still in its draft form, legislation is expected to be enacted this year, and environmentalists and legislators say the PAA must be punished for its 'irres-ponsible' and 'uncaring' actions.
Protesters have successfully lobbied to have PAA director of corporate affairs Clinton Leeks appear before Legco's environmental panel this week to explain why drilling began in November - even though a decision has not been made on the location of the depot.
'The PAA has been irresponsible and uncaring,' said Friends of the Earth spokesman Lisa Hopkinson.
'They have shown total disregard for the dolphins. The [requirement for an] EIA study is one of the 10 foundation stones of the Government's Green Challenge for the Community. It is quite apparent that the PAA has chosen to ignore this.
