HK Disney site poses ecological threat - experts
Date: 22-Feb-02
Country: CHINA
The findings appear to be the most alarming to date about the US$1.8 billion project which Hong Kong is banking on to rejuvenate its mature tourism industry, but environmentalists have slammed it as one of nature's biggest nightmares.
The government-commissioned study revolves around the former Cheoy Lee Shipyard, which was decommissioned in 2001 to make way for roads and other infrastructure linking to Penny's Bay, the site of the future park.
The shipyard is located northeast of Penny's Bay and its dismantling would involve the removal of around 87,000 cubic metres of contaminated soil, cutting 42,100 cubic metres of soil and rock for slope stabilisation, transporting tainted soil to another site for treatment and a decontamination process that would take up to three years, according to the study.
But the study by Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd warned that decommissioning works surrounding the 37-year-old shipyard may "cause high level impacts on ecological resources".
"The greatest possible disturbance is to Rice-fish habitats...and restricted and protected plant species," it said.
It recommended that threatened fish and plant species be transplanted ahead of the decommissioning exercise.
Failure to decommission the shipyard would pose long-term risks to the health of workers and visitors to the park, it said.
The warnings were no surprise to environmentalists, who have blamed land reclamation and infrastructure works connected to the park for massive water pollution problems around Penny's Bay.
"I'm not surprised at all. Areas close to the shipyard used to be breeding grounds for lots of fish and corals, but they are now all dead because of the reclamation," said environmentalist Sannie Chan, who slammed the report as too late.
Fishermen who used to live off the seas around Penny's Bay have suffered from dwindling catches in the past year and are now forced to venture farther afield. Many fish farmers around the bay have also been forced to give up their trade.
The park is split 57:43 between the Hong Kong government and Disney and is due to open by early 2006.