Fwd: Development Bureau - Access To Information (Reference no.: WB/10/2018)

[Simon H WANG]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <wb...@devb.gov.hk>
Date: Thu, Nov 22, 2018 at 6:29 PM
Subject: Re: Development Bureau - Access To Information (Reference no.: WB/10/2018)
To: <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>

Dear Mr. Wang,

I refer to your email of 1 November 2018.  With your consent of transfer of application given on 2 Nov 2018, your application is handled by DEVB.  Further to our interim reply of 9 November 2018, please find below our response.

Regarding the proposed artificial islands at the Central Waters, the Government's decision as stated in this year's Policy Address is to commence a study on the project.  As part of the decision, we plan to develop near carbon-neutral pilot zones on the artificial islands in the Central Waters.  Further, we will explore measures, such as the wider use of renewable energy (e.g. solar energy) , energy efficient design and technologies (e.g. district cooling system), green transport, higher greening ratio, more advanced recycling and waste management measures etc., with a view to progressing towards the long-term vision of carbon-neutral community.

During the study stage, we will strive to explore measures to protect the environment and reduce carbon emission during the construction as well as the operation of the artificial islands.  We will conduct the requisite environmental impact assessments under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, and make specific proposals on respective mitigation measures, thereby ensuring all relevant statutory requirements are complied with.  The prevailing reclamation techniques are effective to reduce the impacts on surrounding water quality and ecology arising from the works.  For instance, the use of “non-dredging methods” for reclamation and “deep cement mixing” can effectively reduce the pollution caused by the removal of seabed sediments.  We will explore other more advanced and environment-friendly reclamation techniques and designs in the studies with a view to further protecting the environment.  

For your reference, Lantau Tomorrow is a vision spanning two to three decades and means a lot, in different aspects, to the future development of Hong Kong.  The Central Waters is in proximity with the Hong Kong Island, Lantau and various major infrastructures.  Creation of artificial islands at this strategic location can effectively increase land supply and open up spaces for housing and economic activities.  In terms of residential units, the proposed 1 000 ha Kau Yi Chau artificial islands can provide 150 000 to 260 000 units, 70 per cent of which (105 000 to 182 000 units) are public housing.  This quantum suggests huge potential of Kau Yi Chau, when compared with the aggregate of about 130 000 public housing units to be provided by the four New Development Areas or new town extension projects that are ongoing or being planned.  Also, the strategic location of Kau Yi Chau allows us to develop another Core Business District for Hong Kong to strive ahead.  The newly proposed major roads and railway network will connect the artificial islands with the Hong Kong Island, Lantau and the coastal areas of Tuen Mun to help divert traffic between North West New Territories and the metro area and relieve congestion at the West Rail.  On the other hand, the transport network helps adjust the current uneven distribution of homes and jobs so as to make the territorial spatial planning pattern more balanced.  These multiple strategic benefits cannot be easily offered by other land supply options.  Of course, for Hong Kong to avoid the recurrence of the current dire land shortage, we cannot afford to rely on just one single option to tackle the land supply issue.  A multi-pronged approach, as evident from past experiences and backed by the broad support from the Task Force on Land Supply and the general public, is a pragmatic strategy that meets Hong Kong’s overall interest.  

We are aware of the public’s concern about the technical assessment.  We will conduct the needed site investigations, technical studies, and traffic and environmental impact assessments, etc. in the future studies and then draw up a detailed proposal.  In the course of the studies, public engagement activities will be conducted to provide more comprehensive information for consulting the public and gathering their views and suggestions.

For enquiries, please contact us at 3509 8801.

Regards,
Cindy NG
EO(W)G
Works Branch

From:	WB Enquiry/DEVB/HKSARG
To:	simo...@hkbu.edu.hk
Date:	09/11/2018 19:48
Subject:	Development Bureau - Access To Information  (Reference no.: WB/10/2018)
Sent by:	Cindy Yuen Ki NG

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Dear Mr Wang,

Your request dated 1 November 2018 under the Code on Access to Information has been received.  We are now processing your request and will revert to you in due course.

For enquiry, please contact 3509 8801.  Thank you.

Regards,
Development Bureau (Works Branch)

----- Forwarded by Enquiry CEO/CEO/HKSARG on 01/11/2018 03:33 PM -----

From:        Simon H Wang <simo...@hkbu.edu.hk>
To:        "c...@ceo.gov.hk" <c...@ceo.gov.hk>,
Date:        01/11/2018 12:06 AM
Subject:        The potential conflict between the reclamation project and Hong Kong's commitment under Paris Climate Agreement

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Dear Sir/Madam
         I refer to the government’s plan to build an artificial island off the Lantau Island and would like the Office of Chief Executive to answer the following questions under the Code on Access to Information:
1-To what extent and in what ways would the government take into account the carbon emission issues of the proposed reclamation project when making relevant decisions and policies?
2-Will the proposed reclamation plan undermine Hong Kong’s efforts and commitment to reduce carbon emission under Paris Climate Agreement?
3-If the answer to Q2 is yes, how does the government plan to deal with this issue?
4-If the answer to Q2 is no, please explain the answer with evidence.
5- If the government cannot answer Q2 at the moment, will it investigate this issue when engaging consulting firms to study the reclamation project?
6- If the answer to Q.5 is yes, please explain how it would investigate the matter.
7- If the answer to Q.5 is no, please explain why not.

Thanks in advance for your information.  

Yours sincerely 
Simon Wang 
--
Simon Wang, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Language Centre 
Hong Kong Baptist University 
Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 
http://lc.hkbu.edu.hk/staff_simon.php  

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