I refer to the letter from B W Darvell, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Marine Conservation Society (South China Morning Post, April 3), regarding the coral threat on Ping Chau.
I would like to take this opportunity to elaborate on the existing environmental impact assessment (EIA) process for public projects.
At the feasibility study stage of a public project, the proponent department will submit information to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) for review. The information will normally include the scope and the nature of the project as well as the measures that the proponent department will carry out to minimise environmental impacts.
The EPD will review the materials and where the environmental issue at stake lies outside the EPD's pollution control remit, seek advice from other departments and authorities. Based on the advice so obtained, the EPD will decide whether an EIA is necessary or not. If an EIA is necessary, the EPD will, with the advice from relevant authorities, issue a study brief and manage the EIA process. If an EIA is not required, the proponent department will be required to implement measures to avoid pollution during construction.
In this case, the Architectural Services Department (ASD) is the works agent for the Marine Department to design and enlist contractors to construct a radar station on a hill top at Ping Chau. The piece of work mentioned in Dr Darvell's letter is a temporary loading point (15 metres by nine metres) for unloading equipment and construction materials. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department, as the conservation authority, was consulted, and it was concluded that no EIA was required. It is worth mentioning that through this process, the original proposals for a permanent pier and an oil pipeline were dropped to minimise environmental damage. Besides, the construction period of the project was shortened from 15 months to 11 months to further reduce the potential impacts arising from this project.
WONG HON-MENG Acting Principal Environmental Protection Officer for Director of Environmental Protection