The environmental impact assessment process moves another step forward with the Environmental Protection Department introducing the concept of three-dimensional public engagement tools and encouraging proponents of large-scale projects to adopt them.

The Northeast New Territories Landfill Extension will be the first project adopting such tools.

Assistant Director of Environmental Protection Elvis Au said Hong Kong is the first place in the world to do so to enable better communication, make it easier for people to understand complex projects and issues, and promote continuous public involvement and stakeholder engagement.

Graphic outputs not easily understood

Traditionally, graphic outputs are used to illustrate the various development scenarios. This type of presentation, while sufficient to communicate information to a technical audience, is not easily understood by non-technical people.

With 3D public engagement tools, baseline environmental conditions can be illustrated by digital 3D models with easy-to-understand visualisations.

As different options and their environmental performance can be presented in 3D models through various coloured illustrations, graphics or multimedia images or videos, people can easily visualise and compare their advantages and disadvantages.

Mitigation measures can also be visualised prior to their construction and implementation. People can appreciate the effects of such measures and after having a better understanding of a project, they can make use of the tools to offer suggestions, alternative options and mitigation measures.

To increase public awareness of the 3D public engagement tools, demonstrations for two fictitious projects including a road project and a dredging project have been uploaded on the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance website.

Copies of the disk containing the 3D demonstration of the public engagement tool can be obtained from the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance Register Office on 27/F., 130 Hennessy Road, Southorn Centre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Environmental web-based info available

Apart from the 3D public engagement tools, Hong Kong is among the first places in the world to provide web-based information on environmental performance of major projects for public access.

Hong Kong is the first and only place where the general public can see full environmental impact assessment reports and comprehensive environmental monitoring and audit information through the Internet.