Dai
Secretary for Transport and Housing
Transport and Housing Bureau
15/F, Murray Building
Garden Road, Central
26 December, 2008
Dear Ms. Cheng, J.P.,
Re: Hong Kong Section of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (G.N. 8022)
I am writing to express my strong objection to the captioned proposed works (G.N. 8022). Follows are the manners by which I will be affected -
As a subscriber of organic vegetables supplied by an organic farm in Kam Tin, I’m frustrated by the lack of vision of the government which continually devastates local organic farming and the environment. As far as I am aware of, drainage “improvement” works by the government has already affected water supply at the several organic farms in Kam Tin area. The proposed express rail link, though constructed and operated underground in most part, will certainly alter the hydrology—not to mention ecology—of Shek Kong and Kam Tin region. The construction of associated ventilation buildings, stabling sidings, maintenance facilities, emergency rescue station and other works facilities at the region will also affect the overall ecology. Organic farming, the new hope for food safety and local economy of Hong Kong, relies heavily on the ecosystem not only within the farm area itself but beyond. Without a proper assessment of the potential damage inflicted on the core local organic farming area in Shek Kong/Kam Tin region, the works should not even be considered.
As an educator who cares for children and those to come, I’m troubled by the leading example set by the government which on the one hand claims to uphold “sustainable development” while in reality always places priority on “development” over “sustainability”. Infrastructure projects can hardly boost economy in the long run; on the contrary, they destroy the precious environment—and economy—that all people and creatures in Hong Kong depend on for survival. The urban Hong Kong has already been ruined, can the government put some effort to preserve the remaining countryside for all to breathe in fresh instead of foul air?
As a Hong Kong citizen who enjoys hiking and loves all beings in nature, I’m concerned that the proposed works will cut through several protected sites of important ecological values (Shing Mun Country Park, Tai Lam Country Park, Tai Mo Shan Country Park, Lam Tsuen Country Park and Mai Po Ramsar Site!!!). An express railway of such large scale will certainly fragment the ecosystems, whether during and after construction. A fragmented ecosystem is no ecosystem at all. Hong Kong will hence earn a bad reputation and become a joke internationally, among all nature lovers and tourists, who come regularly to Hong Kong for bird watching, butterfly watching and other explorations.
As a Hong Kong citizen with scientific training, I’m astounded and deeply worried to read in the EIA Report of Sheung Shui to Lok Ma Chau Spur Line (380433/BBV/910 Issue 4, Volume 1 & 2 of 3 – Assessment Report), the company conducting the EIA spelled out that “Lepidoptera and Odonata [are chosen] as representative invertebrate species” because “other invertebrate groups have been less well studied and, as a consequence, the data required to assess the ecological significance of individually observed specimens within the Study Area are not available.” If ecological data are not available, go and conduct studies! And in the more recent EIA of Lung Mei, “locally common species of conservation importance” are disregarded. Hong Kong is proud to be home to many such “common” species, some even of the status of globally threatened. Yet in the eyes of EIA companies which are hired by developers in most cases, the prized species are negligible. This is alarming.
The current way of having the project proponent to directly hire the EIA company is completely irrational. Most if not all of the EIAs conducted in the past have revealed the fallacy of the practice—ecological disturbances are toned down and mitigation measures are insufficient, ineffective and without follow-up monitoring. Before an independent process of implementing EIA is in place, all EIAs conducted with such biases should not be considered legitimate.
More specifically to this Express Rail Link project, I would like to see a comprehensive EIA conducted on the infrasound and seismic wave signals generated during the construction phase, particularly by the use of the advanced Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), as well as hydrological changes in the different mountain bodies and water systems caused by the interception of tunnel and related construction works. Impacts on flora and fauna, not just on humans as in conventional EIAs, are particularly noteworthy. And how will sonic boom and vibration of EXPRESS rail in operation, and construction works (including dust, disturbances, etc) affect the surrounding animals, including invertebrates and vegetation? The 500-m (and focus study within 100-m only!!) study area on both sides is clearly insufficient. An ecosystem comprises a larger area than that (how large a habitat does a bird of prey need?). And the upsetting of even one species of creature may cause ecological catastrophe, which more often than not, is irreversible and may induce serious harm to the public (e.g. mosquito or other insect-borne epidemic).
As a Hong Kong citizen with a civic sense, I’m ashamed to read in the gazettal note that only persons personally affected by the project should send in his/her comments/objections. Such large-scale project which affects the well-being of all members—current and future—of Hong Kong should be publicized in a wider scale. And all members of public in Hong Kong should be well informed and consulted before any decision on the proposed works is made. A referendum is needed.
Dai
A Hong Kong citizen
