Concern over management confusion at planned Hong Kong marine park
Concern over likely conflicts as multiple departments involved in project's operation
Concerns have been raised over possible management confusion at a planned marine park off north Lantau Island which will be overseen by multiple departments.
The issues were highlighted as the Highways Department revealed at a Country and Marine Parks Board meeting yesterday that the planned Brothers Islands marine park was to be expanded from 850 hectares to 970 hectares, a 14 per cent increase.
The park was proposed in 2009 as one of the conditions of approval, following endorsement of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge's environmental impact assessment, to compensate for the loss in Chinese white dolphin habitat.
"Usually the measures of an environmental assessment will be tasked with the project proponent. That's not the case here," said board member and geography associate professor Dr Ng Cho-nam. "There could be conflicts of resource allocation."
Although the department is leading the project, the park will be run by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
To further complicate matters, the park's 80 hectare "core area" is located in two approach areas of Chek Lap Kok airport, which prevents all vessels from entering without a permit from the Marine Department.