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On Monday, the Airport Authority Hong Kong
(AAHK) submitted its project profile to the Director of
Environmental Protection for the expansion of Hong Kong
International Airport (HKIA) into a three-runway system.
The submission is made following the
government’s approval in principle for AAHK to adopt for planning
purpose the three-runway system as the future development option
for HKIA, and it marks the beginning of the project’s statutory
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process under the
Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO).
Under the EIAO, members of the public will have
14 days from 29 May to 11 June to forward their written comments
on the project profile to the Director of Environmental Protection
before he issues an EIA Study Brief that will set out the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the EIA study and
requirements that the EIA study shall need to fulfill.
On receipt
of the Study Brief, AAHK and its consultants will start conducting
a series of comprehensive studies to assess potential
environmental impacts and launch a series of stakeholder
engagement activities to solicit public views.
To
facilitate stakeholders’ exchange of views on the EIA and related
issues, AAHK will set up technical briefing groups and invite
environmental experts, green NGOs, industry representatives, and
relevant government officials to join these groups, with a view to
addressing the potential environmental impacts arising from HKIA’s
expansion into a three-runway system.
Community liaison groups
inviting the participation of relevant district councillors, area
committee members and other community representatives will also be
established to collect feedback and suggestions.
Stanley
Hui Hon-chung, Chief Executive Officer of AAHK, said, “The
expansion of HKIA will enhance Hong Kong’s long-term development
and overall competitiveness. The EIA study is a critical element
of the planning phase to develop HKIA into a three-runway system,
and we will conduct it in a highly engaging, transparent and
professional manner.”
Kevin Poole, Deputy Director, Projects, AAHK,
added, “What we submitted today outlines the basic information
about the project as well as the potential impacts on the
environment which shall be addressed in the EIA study covering air
quality, water quality, noise, marine ecology, fisheries, waste
management, landscape, visual, and cultural heritage.”
The project profile and other related
information will be available online on 29 May in the website of
Hong Kong International Airport and on the EIAO website.
It will also be available
for inspection at the EIAO Register Office of Environmental
Protection Department; Environmental Resources Centre at Wan Chai, Tsuen Wan and Fanling; and also Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan and Islands
District Offices from 29 May.
AAHK will start the EIA study
after receiving the Study Brief. The process is expected to take
about two years to complete. During this period, apart from
setting up technical briefing and community liaison groups, AAHK
will also organise exhibitions, talks, airport visits, roundtable
briefings and meetings to build understanding, facilitate
interaction and solicit views among stakeholders.
AAHK also plans to publish an electronic newsletter to keep members of
the public informed of the EIA process and studies.
“As
always, we place great value on the feedback we collect as we
explore all possible ways to avoid, minimise, mitigate and compensate for potential environmental impacts. We strive to make
HKIA the greenest airport in the world and to contribute to the
long-term sustainable development of Hong Kong,” Mr Hui said.
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