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WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 1991
HE ALSO STRESSED THAT EVEN IF KAI TAK AIRPORT WAS NOT RELOCATED, A NUMBER OF INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS SUCH AS A BRIDGE TO LANTAU ISLAND WOULD STILL NEED то BE BUILT FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S PORT FACILITIES.
THE PACKAGE OF DEVELOPMENT UNDER PADS ALSO OFFERS THE GREATEST SCOPE FOR INTEGRATION WITH THE PLANNED AND EXISTING TRANSPORT SYSTEM BY CONNECTION WITH THE WEST KOWLOON EXPRESSWAY AND ROUTE 3, WHICH ARE ALL REQUIRED FOR ALLEVIATING THE CONGESTION ALONG THE NATHAN ROAD CORRIDOR AND MEETING THE INCREASING CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC DEMAND INDEPENDENT OF THE PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT ON NORTH LANTAU.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "THIS WESTWARD DEVELOPMENT OF PORT AND AIPPORT HAS ALSO TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE ADOPTED PLANNING POLICY OF PRESERVING THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE TERRITORY FOR RECREATIONAL AND CONSERVATION PURPOSES, AS WELL AS FACILITATING THE PEARL RIVER TRADE ON THE WEST.
"EVEN JUDGING ON A STAND-ALONE BASIS, THE GOVERNMENT IS EXTREMELY SCEPTICAL ABOUT WHETHER TOLO HARBOUR OR CLEAR WATER BAY 19 AN IDEAL SITE FOR RELOCATING THE AIRPORT.
"THE METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED BY THE SGID FOR COSTING THE TWO RESPECTIVE OPTIONS IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED BECAUSE THE ENGINEERING COSTS HAVE BEEN GROSSLY UNDER-ESTIMATED, AND THE COSTS REQUIRED FOR AN EFFICIENT TRANSPORT NETWORK AND ENVIRONMENTAL TREATMENT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY NEGLECTED.
"THE COSTS REQUIRED FOR DEVELOPING A SEPARATË TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR THE PORT HAVE ALSO NOT BEEN ADDRESSED.
SOME IMPORTANT SITE-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS ARE SET OUT BELOW:
I. TOLO HARBOUR
BECAUSE OF TERRAIN OBSTRUCTIONS, WHICH PRECLUDES THE POSSIBILITY OF MEETING THE STANDARD "OBSTACLE CLEARANCE" CRITERIA LAID DOWN BY THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION (ICAO),
(ICAO), SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTIES FOR AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS TO THE WEST ARE ENVISAGED;
VERY LITTLE ASSESSMENT HAS BREN MADE OF THE POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE SITE.
NOISE IMPACT, PARTICULARLY ON A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF SHA TIN, HAS BEEN GROSSLY UNDER-ESTIMATED IN THE REPORT AS A RESULT OF THE APPLICATION OF WRONG CRITERIA;
A HUGE BODY OF DEAD WATER WOULD BE TRAPPED IN TOLO HARBOUR FOLLOWING THE RECLAMATION WORKS FOR THE AIRPORT SITE RESULTING IN SEVERE DRAINAGE AND WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS. THE COSTS FOR THE NECESSARY ENVIRONMENTAL TREATMENT WORKS WOULD BE COLOSSAL;
NO TRAFFIC