1. Introduction
This assignment requires each student to
review either of the two EIA projects below. Please review the EIA report and
write a fully referenced report on it. Apart from the EIA report, you should
take references to the EIA Ordinance, the Technical Memorandum to the EIA
ordinance (TM), the relevant Guidance Notes, the EIA study brief and relevant
meeting documents and literature. You can comment on all or selected aspects of
the EIA report although the most controversial issue in both projects is ecology. All points made should
be substantiated rather than
just your own opinion. You should read the grade descriptors below carefully.
2. EIA Projects for Review
Option 1: Partial
Development of Fanling
Golf Course Site (EIA-282/2022)
The most controversial EIA project last year
was the Partial Development of Fanling Golf Course Site (EIA-282/2022). After
the EIA Sub-Committee (EIASC) meeting on 18 July 2022 and the ACE meetings on 8
and 19 August 2022, no conclusion on the EIA report was made (Table 1). The
Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) requested the project proponent (PP)
to provide further information including
additional ecological surveys
on birds and bats.
The PP submitted the
additional information to the
EIA report to ACE in April 2023. ACE
had a meeting on 3 May 2023 an endorsed the EIA report with
conditions. However, Fanling Golf Club filed a judicial Review application to
the High Court on DEP’s approval of the EIA report. The Hight Court then issued
a temporary ban on the EIA procedure of this project in August 2023 pending the
result of the judicial review. The court hearing is yet to be conducted.
Table 1. Information about the EIA study for this assignment.
EIA-282/2022 Technical Study on Partial
Development of Fanling Golf Course Site – Feasibility Study
Status:
–
The PP submitted the project profile
in May 2019
–
DEP issued the study brief
in July 2019
–
Applicant was informed on 17 May 2022 of the suitability of the report
for public inspection.
–
Report was exhibited for public to comment from 20 May 2022 to 18 Jun
2022.
–
DEP requested for
further information under
section 8(1) of the Ordinance on 31 Aug 2022.
–
The project proponent submitted “Additional information to the EIA Report” in April 2023.
–
Approval of the EIA report
with conditions was issued on 11 May
2023.
–
Fanling Golf Club filed a judicial review in the High Court on EPD’s approval of the EIA report in July 2023.
–
The High Court
issued a temporary ban on the EIA procedure on 24 August
2023 pending the result of the Judicial Review to be
conducted.
Resources:
All the EIA reports, ACE and EIASC meeting papers
and minutes as well as relevant meeting documents of the Town Planning
Board and High Court papers
are available at this Google
Drive folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D3V5AQ3UJQpSp7KYOmCJ8h4rA5qyLZ3n?usp=share_link
Option 2: Agreement No. CE 20/2021
(CE) First Phase
Development of the New Territories North – San Tin / Lok Ma Chau
Development Node – Investigation (EIA-302/2023)
This EIA
project will likely be the most controversial one in 2024 as it proposes to
reclaim almost 90 ha of fishponds for the San Tin Technopole development. The
Project profile was submitted in May 2021 and the study brief was issued by EPD
in June 2021. The EIA report was exhibited for public consultation on 2 February 2024.
Members of the public could
submit written comments
to EPD on or before 2 March 2024. The most controversial part of the EIA
is zoning about 90 ha of fishponds in San Tin into the proposed San Tin
Technopole. Interestingly, these 90 ha were not included in the project profile
(see Figure 1.1) but were added later (See Figure 1.1 of the Executive Summary
of the EIA report).
Resources:
San Tin Technopole https://nm-santintech.hk/en/study-overview/bg/
San Tin Technopole Revised Recommended Outline
Development Plan https://nm- santintech.hk/en/land-use-proposal/rodp/
Development of the New Territories North – San Tin / Lok Ma Chau Development Node –
Investigation (EIA-302/2023)
o
Project Profile https://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/profile/latest/esb340/esb340.pdf
o
Study brief https://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/study/latest/esb-340.pdf
o EIA
report exhibited for public consultation on 2 February 2024 https://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/report/eiareport/eia_3022023/Index.htm
Deep Bay in a minute,
HKBWS https://cms.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/hkbws/work/monitor/other- monitor/knowing-deep-bay-en
LCQ8: Wetland
Buffer Area https://www.devb.gov.hk/en/sdev/press/index_id_10860.html Stand Firm for San Tin, HKBWS https://www.hkbws.org.hk/cms/en/bird_watching-with-
us/protectfishpondwetlands-en
Some literature on fishponds
in Deep Bay are included
in this Google folder
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D3V5AQ3UJQpSp7KYOmCJ8h4rA5qyLZ3n?usp=share_link
3.
NOTES
·
You are
expected to read the resources provided plus course materials and other references in supporting your assignment.
·
Each paper must be approximately 2,000-2,500 words in length (excluding the list of references at the end of the paper),
typed and properly referenced and footnoted.
·
You may write in any citation style
of your choice.
However, I prefer APA if you don’t mind (see
https://pitt.libguides.com/citationhelp).
·
Copying from the source is unacceptable even if the
source is quoted. If copying is detected, the paper will be failed. Plagiarism
is a serious academic offence and will be treated according to standard
procedures in the University.
