Hong Kong's outstanding areas of natural beauty must be saved

I have spent the last three years photographing the natural landscape of Hong Kong and have been overwhelmed by its beauty, particularly along its eastern coastline from Double Haven down through the outer islands of Rocky Harbour to the Nine Pins Group and Tung Lung Chau.

I was therefore extremely shocked to learn of CLP Power's proposal to build and deploy 67 giant wind turbines off the coast of Clear Water Bay/Sai Kung.

The area contains many islands and coves, exceptional beaches, rugged peaks, waterfalls, marine reserves, striking rock cliffs and spectacular sedimentary rock and volcanic structures.

In particular, I would rate the coastal cliffs south of the East Dam at High Island Reservoir and the Nine Pins Group as world class in terms of their volcanic columnar tuff features and natural beauty. On Nine Pins, the hexagonal tuffs belong to the High Island Formation and were formed around 141 million years ago as a result of a gigantic eruption and the cooling of volcanic ash. The islands were designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1979 because of their geological importance.

The only other place to have excellent examples of such features is the much younger Giant Causeway in Northern Ireland. It has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1986 under Criteria VII and VIII.

To be included on the world heritage list, sites must be of outstanding universal value and meet at least one out of ten selection criteria.