The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has said it will strictly follow the provisions of the relevant ordinance with regard to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the San Tin/Lok Ma Chau Development Node (STT).

The STT is a designated project that requires an EIA report under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO).

The Civil Engineering & Development Department (CEDD) has completed the EIA report for the project and it was exhibited for public inspection from February 2 to March 2.

Responding to media inquiries, the EPD issued a statement highlighting that the CEDD had engaged a professional environmental consultant to conduct the EIA study, which included an ecological impact assessment and a 12-month ecological survey.

To compensate for the ecological impact caused by the development of the San Tin Technopole, the EIA report proposes mitigation measures, including the creation of environmental capacity through the proposed Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park, to ensure that there will be no net loss in ecological functions or carrying capacity in the wetlands concerned.

Regarding an earlier claim by the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society that the photos in the EIA report did not match the names of the birds, the CEDD has explained that this was due to editing problems when the consultant team compiled its attachments to the report.

The CEDD has submitted amended attachments to the EPD, explaining in detail the causes of the mistakes and follow-up work undertaken.

Under the Technical Memorandum (TM) in the EIAO, if an EIA report requires amendments but these do not affect the validity of the assessment and the overall results and conclusions of the report, there is no need to resubmit the report.

In addition, the EPD said it considered the EIA Study Brief (SB), which was issued on June 30, 2021, to remain valid, stressing that it could cover potential environmental impacts caused by the revised development scope and land use proposals for the San Tin Technopole.

It explained that prior to announcing the revised development area last year, the CEDD notified the EPD in writing of the revised project scope, with the study area of the ecological impact assessment including an area extending 500 meters beyond the revised boundary of the project.

Regarding approval for the EIA report, the EPD will conduct a detailed review of the report, and give comprehensive and careful consideration to the requirements of the SB and TM, as well as the comments on the environment raised by the public and the Advisory Council on the Environment during the public inspection period.

It added that it will also impose conditions if the EIA report is approved.