A spokesperson for the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) said that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the Reclamation for Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands (KYCAI) was submitted to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (December 31). The EPD will, in accordance with the statutory procedures and requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), review the relevant EIA Report within 60 days upon receiving it to determine whether the report is suitable for public inspection to commence the subsequent statutory process of EIA.
The spokesperson for the CEDD said, "EIA is one of the steps in implementing large-scale engineering projects. Its purpose is to assess potential environmental impacts of the projects at the planning stage, and to formulate measures to avoid, minimise and mitigate these impacts. As for the reclamation for KYCAI, the EIA statutory process is part of the work to be carried out at the early planning stage of the project."
The CEDD prepared the EIA Report for the Reclamation for KYCAI in accordance with the provisions in the EIAO, the Technical Memorandum on EIA Process, and the EIA Study Brief. During the preparation process, a comprehensive ecological survey was carried out, and an advanced simulation model on hydrodynamics and water quality was adopted to carry out rigorous assessment on potential environmental impacts of the reclamation works in accordance with the requirements of the EIAO. Furthermore, appropriate mitigation and precautionary measures were formulated.
The CEDD also engaged a group of experts (including local, overseas and Mainland experts specialised in environment and ecology) to delve into relevant environmental issues such as hydrodynamics, water quality, ecology and fisheries. The experts provided positive feedback on the EIA Report and considered the assessment scientific and reasonable.
The proposed KYCAI, involving the reclamation of 1 000 hectares of land, is currently at its study and planning stage. Apart from the EIA Report for the reclamation submitted today, the CEDD is required to complete EIAs on other aspects including strategic roads and land development, and will commence detailed engineering design progressively. The Government will take into consideration the progress of relevant studies on the project, as well as the overall planning of various land creation and infrastructures projects, in mapping out the implementation strategy of the project in a steady and prudent manner.
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