• Researchers urge impact assessment with discovery of low-oxygen areas near site of proposed artificial islands
• Supporters play down concerns, saying proper study will be done and ecological impact not as significant

An ambitious plan to build artificial islands in Hong Kong waters could suffocate marine life, creating smelly harbours for future residents, ocean scientists warned, with some fearing that the proposed reclamation would worsen a nearby “dead zone” depleted of oxygen.

A team of researchers conducting a study around the South China Sea told the Post that latest findings indicated two seasonal zones with low oxygen levels to the south and southeast of Lantau Island.

The full news article is available in SCMP.