Contents
1.1 Background
1.2 Establishment of a New Marine Park
1.3 Goals and Management Targets of the Proposed
Marine Park
1.4 Roles and Responsibilities
1.5 Purpose of this Marine Park Proposal
1.6 Structure of this Marine Park Proposal
2 Proposed Size of the 3RS Marine Park
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Interconnectivity of Marine Protected Areas
2.3 Restricted Areas
2.4 Existing and Planned Marine Uses
2.5 Preliminary Boundary for the Proposed 3RS
Marine Park
3 Potential Management Plan and Enhancement Measures
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Zoning Scheme
3.3 Marine Ecological and Fisheries Enhancement
Measures
3.4 Fisheries Management Measures
3.6 Public Uses
3.7 Ecological and Environmental Monitoring
Programme
1
Introduction
1.1
Background
The Airport
Authority Hong Kong (“AAHK”) is responsible for operation of the Hong Kong
International Airport (HKIA). The
HKIA Master Plan 2030 (MP2030) recommended expansion of HKIA into a
three-runway system (3RS) (“the Project”) as the best
way forward to cope with the projected increase in air traffic demand and to
secure the continual growth of HKIA operation for the benefit of the economic
development of Hong Kong. This
development option for HKIA received approval in principle from the Government
of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on 20 March 2012.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Study Report for the Project was prepared in accordance with the study brief
requirements (ESB-250/2012) issued by the Environmental Protection Department
(EPD). The EIA Report for the
Project (Register No. AEIAR-185/2014) was approved by the EPD on 7 November
2014 and the Environmental Permit (EP) (EP No. EP-489/2014)
granted on 7 November 2014.
As recommended in the approved EIA Report, the AAHK proposed to
establish a new marine park which would comprise an area of approximately 2,400
ha as compensation for the seabed habitat and open waters habitat loss
associated with the land formation for the 3RS Project. The new marine park is proposed to
provide critical linkages between the current Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park (SCLKCMP) and the proposed The
Brothers Marine Park (BMP). It is
anticipated that the establishment of the new marine park would protect and
conserve the marine environment around the HKIA from various anthropogenic
threats such as sewage discharge, seabed dredging, dumping, coastal reclamation
and destructive fishing. In
addition, it is expected to improve the conservation of Chinese White Dolphins
(CWDs) by mitigating the impacts of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation,
changes in patterns of habitat use, as well as minimising
the noise and disturbance from marine traffic, specifically high speed vessels
traffic.
1.2
Establishment of a New Marine Park
In accordance with EP Condition 2.6, the AAHK shall advance the
preparation works for the designation of the marine park as recommended in the
approved EIA Report including a study on the details of the designation containing
at least the following information/specifications, on the understanding that
the designation of the marine park shall be completed before the operation of
the Project:
·
A marine park with an
area of about 2,400 hectares;
·
Steps and programmes of consultation with relevant stakeholders
including the fishery sector; and
·
Incorporation of
enhancement measures including but not limited to deployment of artificial
reefs and release of fish fry.
Prior to undertaking the preparation works for marine park designation,
in accordance with EP Condition 2.7, the AAHK shall prepare a Marine Park Proposal,
including the proposed size and management plan of the marine park as
recommended in the approved EIA Report, in consultation with the Agriculture,
Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). The Marine Park Proposal shall be
submitted to the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) for comment before
submission to the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) for approval no later than 3 months before the commencement of reclamation related
marine works of the Project.
1.3
Goals and Management Targets of the Proposed
Marine Park
In addition to being a mitigation measure for the 3RS Project for the
conservation of CWDs, the proposed marine park (“3RS Marine Park”) will share
the same vision of all marine parks in Hong Kong, which is to protect and
conserve the marine environment for the purposes of conservation, education and
recreation. For the effective
implementation of the 3RS Marine Park against this vision, SMART (specific,
measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound) goals and management
targets will be developed as part of the detailed study. These will be developed in consultation
with relevant stakeholders including fishing industry, green groups, non‐governmental
organizations, marine industry, marine users, boat operators, relevant District
Councils, advisory committees such as the Country and Marine Parks Board,
Marine Parks Committee, Marine Department’s consultative committees such as
Port Operations Committee, Local Vessel Advisory Committee and High Speed Craft
Consultative Committee, and the ACE, community groups, as well as the authority
to ensure that they tie in with the needs and aspirations of the range of users
of the marine park. AAHK will work
with AFCD to ensure effective implementation of the 3RS Marine Park through the
development of SMART goals and management targets as part of the detailed
study.
1.4
Roles and Responsibilities
AAHK will carry out the detailed study on the preparation works for
marine park designation and lead the associated stakeholder consultation
activities, with the support and participation from AFCD throughout the
detailed study. As the Authority
under the Marine Parks Ordinance,
AFCD will be responsible for the designation, management and operation of the
3RS Marine Park. A Liaison Group
involving AAHK and the AFCD is proposed to be set up to facilitate direct and
ongoing liaison with AFCD with a view to adding value to the management of the
3RS Marine Park after its establishment.
Separately, under the environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) programme of the Project, AAHK will conduct CWD monitoring
to assess the effectiveness of the proposed marine park as a mitigation measure
for the Project. Data collected
will be shared with AFCD.
1.5
Purpose of this Marine Park Proposal
This Marine
Park Proposal presents the
proposed location, layout, size and management plan of the 3RS Marine Park to
be established for the compensation of the marine habitat loss associated with
the land formation for the 3RS Project for protection and enhancement of CWD
habitats in western Hong Kong waters as well as mitigating the impacts to CWDs
on habitat fragmentation, changes in patterns of habitat use, as well as
minimising the noise and disturbance from marine traffic, specifically high
speed ferries.
It is important to note that the recommendations presented herein are
preliminary in nature and will be amended and refined subject to the outcomes
of the detailed studies and stakeholder consultations to be undertaken during
the preparation works for the designation of the 3RS Marine Park.
1.6
Structure of this Marine Park Proposal
Following
this introductory section, the
remainder of this Marine Park Proposal is organized as follows:
Section 2 presents the proposed size of the 3RS Marine Park;
Section 3 describes the potential management plan and enhancement
measures to be incorporated for the proposed 3RS Marine Park; and
Section 4 presents the way forward for the
preparation works for the designation of the 3RS Marine Park.
2
Proposed Size of
the 3RS Marine Park
2.1
Introduction
As recommended in the
approved EIA Report, the
proposed 3RS Marine Park would comprise an area of approximately 2,400 ha and
provide critical linkages between the current SCLKCMP (an area of ~1,200 ha)
and the BMP (an area of ~850 ha at the time of EIA reporting). Together, all three marine parks would
make up about 4,450 ha of protected areas for CWD. Figure 2.1
presents the indicative boundary of the proposed marine park matrix scheme
included in the approved EIA Report and the EP ([1]),
and provides the basis on which the proposed size and boundary of the 3RS
Marine Park are prepared under this Marine Park Proposal.
It should be noted that the preliminary boundary of the proposed 3RS
Marine Park shown below in Figure 2.4 is provisional at this
early stage. The exact boundary
shall be subject to further investigation in the detailed study on the proposed
marine park scheduled to commence upon approval of this Marine Park Proposal. Under the detailed study, consultation
with stakeholders and relevant advisory committees will be conducted and their
views will be solicited before finalising the marine park boundary and
size. Further refinement on the
boundary and the proposed 3RS Marine Park size may also be made taking into
account the information on CWD distribution (both historical and up-to-date
recent data), key marine habitats and species, marine traffic, existing
facilities and planned developments in the vicinity of the 3RS Project area available at that time. In addition, the boundary may also be
adjusted in consideration of marine park operation and enforcement point of
view.
2.2
Interconnectivity of Marine Protected Areas
Ecological connectivity is important to the efficacy of conservation as it facilitates the dispersal and
movement of organisms, to re-colonise or persist in the habitats. A study has shown that linkages between
marine protected areas (MPAs) are effective in allowing movement of cetaceans
from one protected area to another ([2]). In addition, it is generally recognised
that MPAs are most effective when they are large in relation to the ranges of
the protected animals and they work best when they can provide linkages between
areas of core habitat for important life functions ([3]).
It is also considered that MPAs which exclude fishing at core area and
anthropogenic disturbance may benefit the adjacent marine ecosystems outside
the MPAs through the net emigration of juvenile and adult fish (“spillover
effect”) and / or export of pelagic eggs and larvae from the restored spawning
stocks ([4]). The spillover effect could be
strengthened through fisheries management measures within the MPAs, e.g.
fisheries no-take zone, maintain an appropriate level of fishing effort, etc. to
provide important protection for fisheries resources and marine mammals. Therefore, MPA connection and
fisheries management measures (to be discussed in Section 3.4) could provide
synergistic effects for the conservation of marine ecological and fisheries
resources within the MPAs and the adjacent marine ecosystems.
The MPAs situated at the northern and western Lantau waters and adjacent PRE waters
for the protection of CWDs are presented in Figure 2.2 and
discussed below.
2.2.1
Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park
(SCLKCMP)
The SCLKCMP is situated in western Hong Kong waters with a total sea area of about 1,200 ha. It was designated on 22 November 1996
for the protection of CWD and fisheries resources. CWDs were generally recorded on the
eastern coast, the northwest and southwestern tips of Lung Kwu
Chau; and near the northeast and southwest coast of Sha Chau. The findings of the long-term dolphin
monitoring programme undertaken by the AFCD suggested that the SCLKCMP have
served as important dolphin habitats with their frequent occurrence in
northwestern Lantau waters ([5]).
The SCLKCMP is also rich in fisheries resources and is an identified
spawning grounds of commercial fisheries resources.
2.2.2
The Brothers Marine Park (BMP)
The BMP is a mitigation measure proposed under the EIA study of the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities
(HKBCF) Project for the conservation of CWD and enhancement of marine
resources. It is situated around
the waters of Tai Mo To and Siu Mo To, covering about 970 ha of sea area. The increase in area (from 850 ha) is in
response to the review of long-term CWD data and the recent nearshore
theodolite tracking data at North Lantau as well as the comments received from
the stakeholder consultation conducted in 2014-15 ([6]). The waters in the vicinity of the
Brothers Islands is one of the heavily utilized dolphin habitats in Hong Kong
according to the findings of the long-term dolphin monitoring programme
undertaken by the AFCD ([7]). However, as reported in the AFCD
long-term dolphin monitoring conducted in 2012-13, some identified CWD
individuals appeared less frequently near the Brothers Islands than in earlier
years which coincided with the overall general abundance decline in northeast
Lantau waters ([8]). The BMP also contains scattered coral
colonies around Tai Mo To, area of moderate fisheries value and important
spawning grounds for commercial fisheries resources. A zoning scheme which consists of one
Core Area and two Anchoring Areas has been proposed in the BMP management plan
for the protection of marine habitats and species while minimizing conflicting
uses by different park users.
The AFCD aim to complete the statutory
procedures for
designating the BMP by end of 2016.
2.2.3
Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin
National Nature Reserve (PRECWDNNR)
The PRECWDNNR was established in 1999 and
upgraded to national level in 2003.
It is located in the north of the Pearl River estuary with sea area of
46,000 ha. Three zones, namely core
zone, buffer zone and experimental zone, have been established for the
protection of CWD (Figure 2.3). The core zone of size 14,000 ha
restricts vessel entry unless prior approval by the management department. The buffer zone of size 19,200 ha is
located around the core zone and prohibits any tourism or commercial activities
within the zone. The experimental
zone, located on the edge of the PRECWDNNR with size 12,800 ha, allows local
commercial activities and tourism.
2.3
Restricted Areas
The Hong Kong International Airport Approach
Areas (HKIAAAs) are located around the HKIA with the restricted access zones
(Area 1 and Area 2) as shown in Figure 2.1. In accordance with the Shipping and Port
Control Regulation (Cap. 313A) and Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (General)
Regulation (Cap. 548F), certain vessels are restricted to enter or pass through
the HKIAAAs depending on the location and vessel height. With the 3RS Project the restricted
access HKIAAAs will be extended as proposed in Figure 2.1. The exact extent of the restricted
access HKIAAAs will be examined during detailed design as well as the
designation process under the relevant ordinances.
Fishing vessels are not allowed to enter the
HKIAAAs and hence these areas act as “fisheries no-take” zone which have
minimal anthropogenic disturbance therefore promoting improved abundance and health
of marine habitats / marine life.
Connecting the 3RS Marine Park with the HKIAAAs is seen to be beneficial
for providing additional linkage between marine protected areas and increasing
the overall size of the interlinked protected area.
2.4
Existing and Planned Marine Uses
Western Hong Kong waters are important for
vessel travelling between Hong Kong and the western side of PRE, including
Zhuhai, Macau and Guangdong.
Urmston Road is an important navigation channel situated at the
northeast of the 3RS Project between Lantau Island and Tuen
Mun serving as a fairway for ocean-going cargo
vessels, river-trade vessels, tankers, bulk carriers, high speed ferries and
other craft. The Urmston Road
remains as a key constraint in deriving the boundary of the 3RS Marine Park.
In addition, a number of infrastructure developments are planned or
underway in North Lantau waters, including the 3RS and the expanded HKIAAA,
HKBCF, Tuen Mun – Chek Lap Kok Link (TM-CLKL), Hong
Kong Link Road (HKLR), the proposed Tung Chung New Town Extension (East), and
potential reclamation sites at Siu Ho Wan, Sunny Bay and Lung Kwu Tan. There are also contaminated sediment disposal
facilities to the South of The Brothers and East of Sha Chau, shipping fairways
and vessel traffic routes, anchorage areas, bunkering areas, mooring buoys,
automatic weather stations and submarine utilities including cables, pipelines,
seawater intake and effluent outfalls.
Establishment of the 3RS Marine Park must take into account these
existing or planned uses with a need to manage/minimise
potentially conflicting uses.
2.5
Preliminary Boundary for the Proposed 3RS
Marine Park
When determining the preliminary boundary for
the proposed 3RS Marine Park, the ecological benefits of MPA connectivity for
CWD conservation as well as the potential conflicts with existing and planned
uses have to be balanced.
Therefore, it is recommended that the proposed 3RS Marine Park shall be
located away from the Urmston Road navigation channel with a buffer maintained
between the proposed marine park boundary and the deeper part of Urmston Road,
to allow safe passage of marine traffic.
In addition, to strengthen ecological benefits of the proposed 3RS
Marine Park, it is recommended to connect it with adjacent MPAs, including
SCLKCMP and the planned BMP of Hong Kong as well as the PRECWDNNR of PRE. Extending the marine park boundary to
the west of the expanded HKIAAA is also considered beneficial for CWD
conservation and this should serve to further strengthen ecological connectivity
with the known CWD habitats as identified in the EIA study. The preliminary boundary of the proposed
3RS Marine Park is about 2,400 ha in size, as illustrated in Figure 2.4.
When the 3RS Marine Park is considered together with the current SCLKCMP
and the latest BMP proposal, a total of 4,570 ha of MPA will be designated in
North Lantau waters for the conservation of marine ecology and fisheries.
Whilst the current proposal is to connect the 3RS Marine Park with the BMP, it should be noted that as the designation of BMP is underway, the exact boundary of BMP is yet to be confirmed.
3
Potential
Management Plan and Enhancement Measures
3.1
Introduction
To effectively carry out
the conservation objectives of the proposed 3RS Marine Park, a management plan is necessary for AFCD to regulate and
monitor the activities inside the marine park. The management plan for the proposed 3RS
Marine Park will be formulated in consultation with relevant stakeholders and
advisory committees during the detailed study. The section below introduces potential
management plan components and enhancement measures that are to be further
investigated during the detailed study.
The key elements
proposed for the management of the proposed 3RS Marine Park include those
necessary for meeting the desired functional, operational, environmental and
ecological objectives. In line with
the existing arrangements for the management of marine parks in Hong Kong, the
management options related to planning for proper utilisation
of different areas/ zones, monitoring the ecology, environment and activities
within the marine parks, enforcing the Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap. 476) and the Marine Parks and
Marine Reserves Regulation (Cap. 476A)
to achieve resource sustainability, and organising
marine conservation-related education and public awareness activities are
proposed to allow consistency in implementation and enforcement. Therefore, the potential management plan
and enhancement measures would include provisions of the following:
· Zoning
scheme;
· Marine
ecological and fisheries enhancement measures;
· Fisheries
management measures;
· Park
administration, including provision of marine park facilities, patrol and surveillance;
· Public uses,
including recreational, educational, public awareness and eco-tourism
activities; and
· Ecological
and environmental monitoring.
Effective implementation of the management plan is key to the success of the marine park.
A Liaison Group involving AAHK and the AFCD is proposed to be set up
immediately prior to the operation stage of the 3RS Project to facilitate
direct and ongoing liaison with AFCD with a view to adding value to the
management of the 3RS Marine Park after its establishment.
3.2
Zoning Scheme
A zoning scheme is
one of the effective management measures to define the activities that can
occur within particular locations of a marine park. A diverse range of benefits and values
of the marine park, including conservation, recreational, educational and
scientific values could be protected under the zoning scheme. The zoning will be developed based on
the latest findings of the marine ecological and fisheries studies as well as
existing and commited marine uses. For example, the location and extent of
core area(s) for the protection of CWD and their prey sources
through prohibition of fishing activities will be further investigated during
the detailed study.
The recommendation to
connect the proposed 3RS Marine Park to SCLKCMP and BMP to form a larger marine
park matrix for better conservation of CWD and fisheries resources also
presents an opportunity to explore integrated management of the three marine
parks, hence developing holistic zoning schemes essentially for one large protected
area. To effectively manage the
three marine parks and carry out enforcement, it is considered that one single
management plan could be implemented for the three marine parks with
size-appropriate zoning management.
The numbers of boundary buoys could also be reduced for easier
management and safe navigation. The
feasibility of integrated management will be further investigated through
liaison with the AFCD and consultation with relevant stakeholders and advisory
committees during the detailed study.
3.3
Marine Ecological and Fisheries Enhancement Measures
To enhance the value
of the proposed 3RS Marine Park, marine ecological and fisheries enhancement
measures would be implemented to protect and enhance marine habitats and
associated fish stocks through the following means. A review on relevant information
including previous studies and surveys on fisheries for the marine park matrix
(i.e. SCLKCMP, planned BMP and the proposed 3RS Marine Park) will be conducted
to establish a fisheries profile within the matrix area. Based on the review results, field
investigations, such as field surveys on fish resources and fishing operations,
may be conducted if deemed necessary to facilitate the design of enhancement
measures and the scope of the surveys will be determined during the detailed
study. In addition, the AAHK will
carry out feasibility studies on the potential enhancement measures to evaluate
their suitability within the proposed 3RS Marine Park. Suitable enhancement measures
recommended by the feasibility studies would be funded directly by the AAHK if
determined to be feasible and to benefit marine ecological and fisheries
resources.
3.3.1
Deployment of Artificial Reefs
As proposed in the
EIA, two potential sites located at the western side of the HKIA have been
identified for potential artificial reef (AR) deployment as illustrated in Figure 3.1.
A feasibility study on the AR deployment will be conducted under
separate cover to investigate the value of ARs and the type / size of ARs best
suited to western Hong Kong waters in terms of longevity and
effectiveness. The two sites will
be further evaluated under the feasibility study on their suitability. The study will also identify other
feasible locations where hydrodynamic effect and wave action would be less
significant and similar to the existing condition of western Chek Lap Kok waters to promote
fisheries resources recovery.
Following the recommendation of the feasibility study, ARs would be deployed
around the 3RS Project Site to provide hard substrates for recolonisation
of marine fauna that are expected to be beneficial to fisheries resources.
3.3.2
Restocking of Fish Fry
Restocking of fish
fry is another possible measure to enhance fish resources in North Lantau
waters. Four potential locations
have been identified for the restocking of fish fry within the proposed 3RS
Marine Park during the EIA. Two of
them situated at the east of Sha Chau and the north of the HKBCF are, however,
not considered as suitable locations due to strong current flow along the Urmston Road and the lack of hard substrates (e.g. ARs) to
provide refuge and shelter for fish fry / juvenile fish. The other two locations situated aside
of the new potential AR sites at the western side of the HKIA are proposed as
the potential locations for fish fry restocking as presented in Figure 3.1.
A feasibility study on fish fry restocking will be undertaken under
separate cover to investigate the value of fish fry restocking in western Hong
Kong waters and explore the species and quantities of fish fry to be released
and the suitable restocking time, frequency and locations, including an
evaluation of the suitability of the two potential locations as shown in Figure 3.1.
Following the recommendation of the feasibility study, fish fry
restocking will be undertaken within the proposed 3RS Marine Park to enhance
fish resources in North Lantau waters.
3.3.3
Investigation / Feasibility of Other Enhancement Measures
Apart from deploying
ARs and untertaking fish fry restocking, other
enhancement measures will also be explored under separate feasibility studies
within the proposed 3RS Marine Park to enhance its ecological and conservation
values. The AAHK would initiate and
fund such enhancement measures if determined to be feasible and to benefit
marine ecological and fisheries resources.
3.4
Fisheries Management Measures
To better protect the
CWDs and fisheries resources, further fisheries management measures listed
below would be explored in consultation with relevant stakeholders and advisory
committees during the detailed study.
The AAHK will discuss with AFCD on the potential ways to assist in the
implementation of the measures where possible for meeting the conservation
objectives of the proposed 3RS Marine Park.
· Location and size of Core
Area(s): to investigate the potential area(s) and
size to be set up as fisheries no-take zone(s) seasonally or all year round;
· Fishing moratorium: to
investigate the possibility on restriction of fishing during certain period of
time (e.g. peak spawning seasons) to allow recovery of fishery resources,
especially for the fish fry and juvenile fish;
·
Fishing gear
restriction: to investigate the possibility on
prohibition of using non-selective gears,
such as three-layer gill nets, in certain zoning within the marine park or in
the entire marine park to reduce bycatch and the capture of unintended species;
· Installation of CCTV: to assist
patrol and surveillance of illegal activities within the marine park; and
· Voluntary Surveillance: to assign a
surveillance team to monitor illegal activities and report to the authorities (e.g.
Marine Police, AFCD) for law enforcement.
3.5
Park Administration
The AFCD will be
responsible for the operation and management of the proposed 3RS Marine Park
after its designation under the Marine Parks Ordinance (Cap. 476). With the
assistance of Transport and Housing Bureau, it is expected that the AFCD will
allocate sufficient resources to ensure effective enforcement of the
regulations stipulated under the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation
(Cap. 476A).
Marine park
facilities are necessary to notify users regarding the relevant regulations and
control measures. These may
include, boundary lights buoys, marine park information boards / sign boards,
which may be placed at prominent locations in the vicinity of the proposed 3RS
Marine Park to demarcate the marine park boundary and zoning schemes. Figure 3.2 illustrates
the indicative locations of the marine park facilities.
3.6
Public Uses
To promote education and public
awareness of the marine environment, educational materials (such as leaflets,
exhibition boards, booths) will be displayed at visitor centres, public venues
and schools, etc.. Other activities (such as eco-tours for
the public and students, eco-guide training) will be organized to foster better
public support for marine conservation.
An education and publicity programme will be organized in collaboration
with District Councils, non-governmental organizations and the tourism industry
to promote the conservation of ecological resources as well as balancing the
needs for development with nature conservation. The AAHK will collaborate with the AFCD
in promoting education and public awareness of the marine environment,
especially the western Hong Kong waters for CWD conservation.
3.7
Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Programme
An environmental and ecological monitoring
programme will be developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the marine park
management plan. Monitoring
components, including water quality, intertidal and benthic ecology, CWD and fisheries resources and fishing operations, would be
considered within the proposed 3RS Marine Park and adjacent waters.
Details on the monitoring programme will be
further developed during the detailed study in consultation with relevant
stakeholders and advisory committees.
To ensure effective implementation of
management plan and enhancement measures for the 3RS Marine Park, details on
the management requirements, responsible parties and resource implications of
the proposed management plan, enhancement measures and subsequent monitoring
will be fully discussed during the detailed study.
4
Way Forward
This Marine
Park Proposal presents the preliminary proposed location, layout, size and
management plan of the proposed 3RS Marine Park to be established for the
compensation of the marine habitat loss associated with the land formation for
the 3RS Project for protection and enhancement of CWD habitats within the
areas. It should be noted that the
preliminary proposed size of the 3RS Marine Park is provisional at this early
stage. The exact boundary of the
3RS Marine Park shall be subject to further investigation in the detailed
marine park study scheduled to commence upon approval of this Marine Park
Proposal. Under the detailed study,
consultations with the relevant stakeholders and advisory committees will be
conducted and their views will be solicited before finalizing the marine park
boundary and management plan.
Further refinement on the boundary of the proposed 3RS Marine Park may also
be made taking into account the information on CWD distribution (both
historical and up-to-date recent data), key marine habitats and species, marine
traffic, existing facilities and planned developments in the vicinity of the
3RS Project area available at that time.
In addition, the boundary may also be adjusted in consideration of
marine park operation and enforcement point of view.
A tentative programme for the key tasks of
the Marine Park Study is presented in Table 4.1. The AAHK will take the lead and work
together with the AFCD in the preparation works for the designation of the
proposed 3RS Marine Park. It is
expected that a detailed study to finalise the marine park boundary and
management plan be initiated in early 2016, with two rounds of stakeholder
consultation planned to be undertaken in 2016–17. The two rounds of stakeholder
consultation will be conducted to solicit views and comments from the fishing
industry, green groups, non-governmental organizations, marine industry, marine
users, boat operators, relevant District Councils, advisory committees (e.g.
Country and Marine Parks Board, Marine Parks Committee, and Marine Department’s
consultative committees such as Port Operations Committee, Local Vessel Advisory
Committee and High Speed Craft Consultative Committee), community groups and
Government departments. When
preparing the stakeholder consultation programme, it is crucial to set the
appropriate moment of the launch of each consultation activity and their
sequence and assess the status of other concurrent developments in the
surrounding waters of Lantau (e.g. consultation programme for the proposed
marine park for the Integrated Waste Management Facilities (IWMF) Project at Shek Kwu Chau). The consultation programme will be
further discussed with EPD and AFCD to ensure the consultations of 3RS Marine
Park and IWMF Marine Park are separated.
The latest desktop and field data, together with the comments from the stakeholder
consultations would be taken into account for the Final Detailed Study Report
to be prepared in 2018, followed by implementation of the necessary legislative
procedures, such that the designation of the 3RS Marine Park will tie in with
the full operation of the 3RS Project.
Effective implementation of the marine park
management plan is key to the success of the 3RS
Marine Park. A Liaison Group
involving AAHK and the AFCD is proposed to be set up immediately prior to the
operation stage of the 3RS Project to facilitate direct and ongoing liaison
between the AAHK and AFCD with a view to adding value to the management of the 3RS Marine
Park after its establishment.
Table 4.1 Tentative
Programme for the Key Tasks of the Marine Park Study
|
Key Tasks |
Time |
|
Submission of Marine Park
Proposal to EPD |
2016 Q1 |
|
Prepare Interim Study Report
based on desktop review of the environmental, ecological and fisheries
profiles |
2016 Q1 - Q2 |
|
Undertake 1st round of
stakeholder consultation based on the findings of the Interim Study Report |
2016 Q3 – Q4 |
|
Prepare Draft Detailed Study
Report based on the Interim Study Report and comments from the 1st
round of stakeholder consultation |
2017 Q1 – Q2 |
|
Undertake 2nd round
of stakeholder consultation based on the findings of the Draft Detailed Study
Report |
2017 Q3 – Q4 |
|
Prepare Final Detailed Study
Report based on the latest desktop and field data and comments from the 2nd
round of stakeholder consultation |
2018 Q1 – Q2 |
|
Statutory Procedures for
Designation of Marine Park |
Designation to tie in with 3RS
full operation |