THE ENVIRONMENT
Chek Lap Kok; a noise bund exceeding 500 metres to the south of the airport island; dust suppression measures in works sites; and the diversion of sewage discharges and polluted storm drains in the Central reclamation.
Two independent Environmental Project Offices (ENPOs), established in 1992 and 1993, respectively, play an important role in minimising cumulative environmental impacts on residents during the construction stage. Through a continuous review of all available environmental data, contract programmes and working methods and a regular site presence, the ENPOS have pursued a proactive approach to identify problems and recommend practicable solutions. Addressing a key concern of residents in West Kowloon, which was the odour and water quality problems associated with the embayment created by reclamation works, remedial works were undertaken to safeguard the quality of water abstracted for toilet flushing to avoid a public health risk.
Port Developments
The continuous growth of demand for port facilities has resulted in the need to develop new container terminals at the northeast of Lantau and to find sites for port back-up facilities. Preliminary design of Container Terminals 10 and 11 is underway, together with the design of ancillary back-up areas behind the planned terminals. As a follow-up to the previous EIA study conducted as part of the Lantau Port and West Harbour Development Feasibility Study, a detailed EIA study is being conducted to address any design changes and define detailed environmental protection measures. Cumulative operational noise was identified as serious, resulting in a need to modify the locations of the proposed Container Terminals 12 and 13, and to incorporate sufficiently high noise barriers to protect nearby residents.
Marine Borrow and Dumping Areas
The construction of the new airport core projects requires 170 million cubic metres of marine fill and 130 million cubic metres of land-based fill. A total of 3.3 million and 128 million cubic metres of contaminated and uncontaminated mud, respectively, will require disposal. The threat to the environment that such activities pose necessitates thorough consideration of environmental impacts at the planning stage and strict implementation of environmental protection measures.
Marine and land-based borrow areas as well as marine dumping sites are subject to EIA studies to confirm environmental acceptability before any sand collection or mud dumping takes place. Environmentally unacceptable sites are not used. Active full-time pit management is in place to ensure that dumping of contaminated mud at East Sha Chau is carried out in an acceptable manner and within the designated area. To evaluate the performance and effects of the dumping on water quality and the marine environment, environmental and ecological monitoring was undertaken at the dumping pits, with particular attention being paid to the levels of heavy metal in the vicinity of both open and sealed pits.
Power Plants
Following government approval in 1993, China Light and Power Company Limited (CLP) has begun construction of four 600-megawatt combined cycle generating units fired on natural gas at Black Point. The use of natural gas as the main fuel for this power plant is
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