CONFIDENTIAL
An international airport would be incompatible with the nature reserve at Mai Po Marshes, which lies directly in the possible airport flight path. Planes would pass over Mai Po Marches at a minimum elevation of 300m and over San Tin at a minimum elevation of 500m.
5.3.11 Whilst the bird strike hazard could be reduced
it is unlikely that it could be totally elimin- ated. The attractiveness of existing roosting and feeding areas could be substantially duced by:
i)
re-
abandonment of the Mai Po Marshes as a
nature reserve
ii)
conversion of the kei wais of Mai Po and the abandoned paddy areas of San Tin to deep fish-ponds, with bunds cleared of
vegetation
iii)
impoundment and drowning" of the man- groves and subsequent conversion to deep fish-ponds (already occurring illegally
the northern part of the mangroves)
in
iv)
prevention of regeneration of mangroves by clearance or poisoning
The mud-flats, however, would continue to attract birds. Although loss of the mangroves would reduce their productivity as a food- source, the mud-flats would remain a roosting and feeding area. Control measures (eg. shooting) may be possible along the Hong Kong coastline. However significant mud-flat areas in Deep Bay remain within China's jurisdiction. Similarly within Deep Bay itself, large fish- feeders such as pelicans and cormorants would present problems of "control".
5-15
CONFIDENTIAL