The impact on the Chinese white dolphin from a liquefied natural gas terminal on South Soko Island is being overstated by some environmentalists, says a leading expert on dolphins.
Thomas Jefferson, a US marine biologist who has been involved in local dolphin research for more than 10 years and was hired by CLP Power as a consultant for the LNG project, said fears over a permanent and severe impact on the dolphins were not justified.
It was also highly unlikely the project would lead to many dolphin deaths, he said.
Without naming names, Dr Jefferson criticised some groups for exaggerating the impact, which should be short-term and confined if proper mitigation measures were in place.
'I do think some groups in Hong Kong are overstating the risks and potential environmental damage to dolphins. There are suggestions the project might cause extinction of the species, and this is definitely not the case,' he said.
'If they take a fair look at the scientific information, they will realise that there are no reasons to worry.'
The LNG project will involve building three storage tanks, a processing plant and a jetty on South Soko, with a 38km submarine pipeline to link the island and Black Point power station.
