XN000022-1996-11-06 — Page 44

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Answer:

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

According to investigation carried out by Government, there is no evidence that the high fish mortality in the Cheung Sha Wan Fish Culture Zone at Lantau Island had been due to water pollution caused by the construction works under the Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter Project. Results of water quality monitoring carried out regularly in conjunction with the typhoon shelter works since construction and dredging work started have indicated that water quality in the vicinity of the works site as well as the Fish Culture Zone has been maintained within the acceptable standards set by the Environmental Protection Department.

A comprehensive water quality monitoring programme has been incorporated in the works contract. The programme is closely supervised by the Civil Engineering Department and includes regular monitoring at 10 monitoring and control stations around the works site, of which two are close to the concerned Fish Culture Zone. Monitoring parameters include dissolved oxygen, suspended solids and turbidity. The monitoring results are checked against baseline water quality results obtained over the period from December 1995 to January 1996 prior to the commencement of dredging works in February 1996.

During the period from February to June 1996 immediately after commencement of the dredging works, water quality monitoring was carried out daily. The results were satisfactory and the frequency of monitoring has subsequently been reduced to 3 days per week since July 1996. The monitoring has been independently audited by Environmental Protection Department regularly since February 1996. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department also conducted regular water quality monitoring at the Fish Culture Zone and findings have so far agreed well with Civil Engineering Department's results.

Monitoring results to date have remained satisfactory and do not indicate any significant change in water quality since construction work started.

In response to recent reports on high mortality of fish in the Fish Culture Zone, the Environmental Protection Department had independently monitored water quality adjacent to the Fish Culture Zone on October 11 at approximately 2 hour intervals between 12 noon to 7 p.m. The prevailing wind was north-easterly, towards the Fish Culture Zone, on that day. Turbidity and dissolved oxygen were found to be normal.