Editorial | Hong Kong must protect the ecological health of its natural assets
Continued vigilance and proactive steps are required to guard against oil spills and prevent long-term environmental damage
The crowds visiting Hong Kong’s scenic sites during Chinese New Year highlighted the value of these precious natural attractions. Ecotourism is a core component of the government’s plan to broaden the city’s appeal as a tourist destination. This will require ecologically sensitive areas to be carefully conserved.
Samples taken by the group in September and December showed significantly higher than normal levels of petroleum hydrocarbon in the soil and water. This could cause long-term ecological damage, Greenpeace warned.
The Environmental Protection Department has offered reassurance, saying it treated the incident as a priority and took immediate action to clear up at the site. Joint inspections in February and March with the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department showed the site to be “in good condition”, with the environment fully recovering, the department added.
It is to be hoped that there will be no long-term damage to the valuable site, especially as Pui O features in government plans for ecotourism. Steps should be taken to ensure that the Greenpeace findings are carefully assessed and the need for any further action considered. The source of the spill has not been identified, which is a concern.
The department says it has warned upstream premises and construction sites to remove potential sources of pollution to prevent a recurrence and believes the spill is likely to be an isolated case. CCTV cameras have been installed nearby.