XN000022-1996-07-03 — Page 63

(c)

Answer:

Mr President,

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how many of the above EIAs were conducted by private consultancy firms, and what was the total amount of consultancy fees paid by the Government in this regard?

Port and airport-related projects

Feasibility studies

(a)

Since 1993, a total of 146 EIAs on Government projects have been undertaken. They are broadly classified as follows:

9

5

27

24

47

31

3

146

(b)

(c)

Site formation, drainage and water supply Sewerage and waste disposal

Roads, bridges and railways Residential developments Miscellaneous

Total:

The recommendations arising from EIAs are aimed at preventing and mitigating any adverse environmental impacts attributable to the development projects. They vary according to the nature, scale and location of a project and the environmental impacts it generates. The recommendations include, for example, noise barriers or enclosures for a road project; amendments to the design, shape, timing, sequence and method of reclamation works; conservation measures for projects located in ecologically sensitive areas; and monitoring and auditing arrangements to minimise noise, air and water quality impacts, etc. These are implemented either by appropriate design of the projects or through contractual or lease conditions. There have been occasional difficulties in the past in enforcing proper and full implementation of EIA recommendations. The EIA Bill, which is now being examined by a Bills Committee of the Legislative Council, seeks to introduce a statutory mechanism for enforcing the EIA requirements.

All the EIAs were carried out by private consultants. The total amount of consultancy fees paid by the Government for the 60 EIAs which have been completed over the past three years are still being collated and the information will be provided to Hon Members as soon as it is available. However, it may be useful to note that for most projects, the cost of the EIA study is less than one percent of the project cost.