·
Residential development which will not have adverse ecological implications will be exempted from the EIA requirements.
At a meeting held yesterday (Monday), the Committee was briefed on the reclamation projects under construction in the harbour and the proposed medium and longer term harbour reclamation projects.
Members were also informed that the new reclamation projects within the harbour were required to accommodate the population growth, to meet the needs of new land use, to restructure the metro area, to clear up environmental black spots and to improve the city design.
A committee member, Mr Winston Chu, expressed concern about the impacts of reclamations on the harbour.
He suggested to develop and to provide better infrastructure facilities in the New Territories.
At the meeting, members also noted the limits in developing the New Territories as a substitute for land supply from reclamation in the harbour. Land resumption, which was a lengthy and expensive process, would be required for implementing public projects in the New Territories.
Moreover, there were relatively few areas left in the New Territories that were under consolidated land ownership and were free from existing land use constraints and other encumbrances.
In addition, certain flood-plain areas were of scenic and ecological value, the character and functions of which could be severely compromised by their development for urban-type use.
End/Tuesday, November 14, 1995