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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1994
"THEREFORE, THE BOARD URGES THE
GOVERNMENT ΤΟ DEVISE AN INTRODUCE A SEPARATE PLANNING INTENTION OF
INTEGRATED CONSERVATION STRATEGY AND ΤΟ ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION ΤΟ REALISE THE CONSERVING THE WETLANDS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE CREATION OF A GOVERNMENT OR THE QUASI-GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF THE MPNR AND DBBZ AREA; THE ACQUISITION OF SENSITIVE SITES WITHIN THE DBBZ ARRA THROUGH LAND RESUMPTION, LAND EXCHANGE OR OTHER MEANS; AND THE DESIGNATION OF MAI PO MARSHES AND THE DBBZ AREA AS A "WETLAND INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE ESPECIALLY AS WATERFOWL HABITAT" UNDER RAMSAR CONVENTION AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.
OF
THE
THE BOARD ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT A CONSULTANCY STUDY WILL BE COMMISSIONED TO REVIEW THE ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF FISH PONDS AND TO ASSESS THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF WETLAND LOSS IN THE DEEP BAY AREA.
THE BOARD CONSIDERS IT ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE OF ALL THE IMPACTS THAT DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE MAI PO MARSHES HAVE ON THE AREA.
VIEW
WOULD
THE STUDY WILL RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE LAND USE ZONINGS AND LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT WHICH COULD BE SUSTAINED. THE FINDINGS WOULD BE USED IN THE FURTHER REVISIONS OF STATUTORY PLANS IN TERMS OF USE ZONING AND BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS AT A LATER STAGE.
AREA,
FOR
"TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FINDINGS OF A RECENT RESEARCH ON THE ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF FISH PONDS TO THE WILDLIFE IN THE DBBZ THE BOARD ALSO AGREED TO AMEND THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD GUIDELINES APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN DEEP BAY BUFFER ZONE ENDORSED BY THE BOARD IN NOVEMBER 1993, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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A MAJOR AMENDMENT IS TO REQUIRE AN APPLICANT TO SUBMIT AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF AT LEAST A 12-MONTH DURATION AS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL IN THE DBBZ AREA.
ON
THIS CAN HELP TO PROVIDE A CLEAR PICTURE OF EXISTING WILDLIFE THE APPLICATION SITE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR, IDENTIFY ANY IMPORTANT FLORA AND FAUNA THAT MAY EXHIBIT SEASONAL PATTERNS, AND HELP TO BUILD UP AN ECOLOGICAL DATABASE FOR THE DBBZ AREA.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT IS THE ADOPTION OF THE "PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE" BY THE BOARD IN CONSIDERING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS IN THE DBBZ AREA.
THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT ANY PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT THAT MAY POSE A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY OF THE AREA WILL NOT BE ALLOWED EVEN IF THERE IS NO CONCLUSIVE SCIENTIFIC PROOF LINKING THAT PARTICULAR DEVELOPMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL OR ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE.
IT IS UP TO THE APPLICANT TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL
AND ECOLOGICAL THREATS TO THE AREA WOULD BE INSIGNIFICANT.
COPIES OF THE GUIDELINES ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE PLANNING INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATION UNIT OF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, 16TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
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