ENG-1993 — Page 446

THE ENVIRONMENT

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avoid environmental problems which may arise from developments, and to promote environmental improvements. It is carried out through input at various levels of planning, often assisted by environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies. A legislative proposal is being formulated to require both the conduct of EIA studies before developments are carried out, and the full implementation of any recommended environmental measures. This legislation is expected to go before the Legislative Council in 1994.

The Governor's policy speech in October 1992 set out important initiatives to strengthen environmental planning. All submissions on policy matters going before the Executive Council must now report on environmental implications. Government departments have also been asked to take more responsibility for their own environmental performance. Apart from the Governor's initiatives, all submissions on public sector projects to the Public Works Sub-committee of the Finance Committee must also include information on environmental implications before funding approval can be given.

At the strategic level, a review of the Territorial Development Strategy, the overall blueprint for developing Hong Kong, is being undertaken to recommend improvements to the territory's land use, environmental and transport framework. The study aims to improve not only the efficiency of the territory but, more importantly, the quality of life. As part of the review, a territorial environmental profile was completed and published. A series of development options are being examined and evaluated, with a view to ensuring that development aspirations can be accommodated within the limits of local and regional environmental targets. The results so far indicate the difficulty of sustaining a clean and healthy environment without placing a limit on development.

Environmentally-desirable land-use changes are being more precisely defined through sub-regional development strategy reviews and district development statements. Environ- mental planning studies are being undertaken as part of the Metroplan-derived district development statements. In 1993, both the Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing development statement, and the Southeast Kowloon study were nearing completion, while work on the development statements for Hong Kong West and for Central and East Kowloon were progressing. These statements also deal with industrial and residential interfaces.

Building on a previous report endorsed by the Hong Kong-Guangdong Environmental Protection Liaison Group, work on defining the cumulative environmental effects of developments in and around Deep Bay continued in 1993. An EIA is being commissioned for the proposed Shenzhen River regulation project. It aims to examine the environmental acceptability of the project, with a view to preserving and protecting the important and unique environments at Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay, the Fu Tien Nature Reserve on the Shenzhen side and other important conservation assets in the region.

At the district level, hazardous and polluting facilities are gradually being resited away from densely populated areas as long-term solutions. Examples of such removals are the cement plants at Kennedy Town and Tsing Yi; the Kennedy Town Abattoir; Hok Un Power Station; Ma Tau Kok Gas Works; and some of the oil depots on Tsing Yi Island.

The EIA process has now been applied to all major new development and redevelopment sites under the Hong Kong Housing Authority, Hong Kong Housing Society and Land Development Corporation. Traffic noise and sewerage constraints are two common issues. Carrying out these EIAS has resulted in more effective and less costly solutions, as well as a better environment for the future residents than would have been the case.