Special Feature :

ECOLOGY IN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Earlier this year the Government approved a new Ordinance on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); the key points are summarised below. At this turning point in the growth of EIA in Hong Kong, we wrote to 120 people currently or previously involved in EIA locally (including Government and non-government organisation employees, environmental consultants and academics) to solicit their anonymous views on the problems, and solutions, particularly with respect to the incorporation of ecology into the EIA process. The resulting comments are shown on the following pages (Part I of the Special Feature), followed by responses from three Government representatives (Part II). Finally the new EIA Ordinance (1997) is outlined, and its implications considered, by Dr. Richard Corlett of DEB, HKU (Part III).

We extend our thanks to all who contributed their views to this feature, and especially to Elvis Au, K.W. Cheung, Richard Corlett and Peter Wong for taking precious time out to respond.

Part I: Comments on the existing EIA process

• Early Stages


• EIA Preparation


• EIA Review


• General Comments


• Follow-up


• Role of Academia


• Role of NGOs

Part II: Government responses to the comments

• Advisory Council on the Environment


• Agriculture & Fisheries Department


• Environmental Protection Department

Part III: The new EIA ordinance

• Scope of the Ordinance


• The Application Process


• Conditions and Enforcement


• Access to Information


• Technical Memorandum


• Major Differences from the Present System


• Problems?


• Comments

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