THE Government has been asked to report on the cumulative impact of all the dredging activities in Hongkong to provide a better assessment of how local waters, fisheries and beaches are affected.
Currently, each dredging project is assessed in isolation and the Environmental Pollution Advisory Committee (EPCOM) yesterday said it was concerned it was not getting an overview of the situation.
Dredging can create a high level of silt in the water, which affects water quality and fisheries and it can also affect beaches if the dredging goes too deep and disrupts wave depths.
Dredging for marine sand to be used in reclamation for the airport and West Kowloon is underway at Tat Tong Channel.
The Government is considering doing the same at East Lamma Channel after rejecting proposals for Mirs Bay and Tsing Chau. Reports were given yesterday on the impact of dredging all four sites.
EPCOM chairman Dr Wang Gung-wu said all of the technical reports ''seemed to be very good and professionally done''.
''But members felt uneasy about what the total effect will be,'' he said.