http://www.tung-chung.hk/eng_index.html
Tung Chung extension
June, 2012:
Better air quality —- but at a cost: A tough choice to make!
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instead of the third runway ?
HK Standard
Tung Chung `park’ on way
Candy Chan
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
A new theme park has been included in the development plans of Tung
Chung to meet the needs of residents.
Details of the plan will be discussed by the Legislative Council panel
on development. A paper shows 285 hectares of land will be created in
the new town.
This includes about 110 hectares on the waterfront where the theme
park, which will comprise half of the area, will be built.
The other 175 hectares will come from western Tung Chung, and part of
the Tung Chung Bay will be reclaimed.
The current population of Tung Chung is 70,000 and this is expected to
go up to 220,000 once the development of the township has been
completed.
However, the development plan has yet to be confirmed and is subject
to the views and feedback from the community during the first stage of
public consultation, which is under way now and will last until August
12.
The Tung Chung development has been identified under the land use
master plan across the territory, in which 150 hectares of housing
sites will be created in the short term while 2,400 hectares will be
made available in the long term.
Meanwhile, a Development Bureau spokesman said all 150 hectares of
land for residential development will come from the Northeastern New
Territories and will accommodate more than 150,000 people.
The NT development area will provide 53,800 new residential units, of
which 57 percent will be for private housing and the rest for public
rental.
The maximum building height will not exce
ed 35 stories to ensure optimum design and a viable air circulation in the area.
Kwu Tung North, situated between Sheung Shui and Lok Ma Chau, will be
the biggest area and have the largest population. Fan Ling North will
be turned into a riverside township, while Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling will
be the smallest area.
The spokesman said compulsory land acquisition and compensation will
cost an estimated HK$40 billion.
Similarly, the government plans to develop another site at Anderson
Road Quarry near Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O.
This is expected to provide 7,000 private housing units and 1,700 new
Home Ownership Scheme units to accommodate a total population of
23,000 people.
The bureau expects construction work to begin as soon as 2017, and
residents are expected to move in 10 years later.
which means of course, why do we need a third runway ?
SCMP 20 June 2012
No room for more visitors, Leung says
Chief executive-elect dampens hopes scheme that lets mainland
residents visit will be expanded – unless Hong Kong economy takes a
turn for the worse
Amy Nip
Updated on Jun 20, 2012
Chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying has echoed concerns by Beijing’s
tourism chief over Hong Kong’s ability to accommodate more visitors,
dampening hopes of expanding the individual visit scheme.
Leung said in an interview on TVB yesterday that the influx of
tourists contributed to inflation of prices in the city. Those
crossing from the mainland to the New Territories, where tourists
usually shop for goods like formula milk, also “disrupt the
livelihood” of residents there, he said. “The mainland government made
the right decision in not expanding the individual visit scheme over
the past five years,” Leung said.
The individual scheme allows 270 million eligible mainland residents
from 49 mainland cities to visit Hong Kong multiple times.
The number of mainland tourists to Hong Kong has increased from 8.5
million in 2003, when the scheme started, to 28.1 million in 2011.
Leung’s statement reflected the concerns of Shao Qiwei , director of
the National Tourism Administration, at a meeting with tourism
industry veterans last week, where Shao questioned whether Hong Kong’s
infrastructure could handle a further jump in numbers.
According to Joseph Tung Yiu-chung, executive director of the Travel
Industry Council, Shao said it often took hours for mainlanders to
cross the border into Hong Kong and that there were worries that the
supply of hotel rooms was inadequate.
However, Leung was quick to add that if the local economy took a turn
for the worse, he would bargain for the central government to extend
the scheme to cover more cities.
The travel scheme used to cover only the four Guangdong cities of
Dongguan , Zhongshan , Jiangmen and Foshan when it was introduced in
2003 as part of a liberalisation measure under the Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement. The number of eligible cities was broadened
in 2007.
Despite Shao’s concerns, industry experts said there was still room
for more visitors, especially amid the global economic downturn.
Michael Li Hon-shing, executive director of the Federation of Hong
Kong Hotel Owners, said the occupancy rate of top hotels slid from 98
per cent last December to less than 80 per cent this month due to a
decrease in the number of business travellers. Government figures show
another 41 hotels will be finished by 2014, and another 6,000 hotel
rooms will be added to the market by 2016. “If there is no increase in
the number of tourists to match the bigger supply, what are we
supposed to do?” Li said.
Simon Wong Ka-wo, chairman of the Hong Kong Food Council, said
mainlanders spent HK$5 billion on food and beverages over the past
year, about 5 per cent of the city’s total spending. If the number of
tourists dropped, restaurants in tourist districts would be hit, he
said.
Over the past year, people have started to question the travel
scheme’s sustainability. Concern groups said tourist spending led to
inflation, though others argued that mainland visitors were vital for
economic growth and jobs generation. Tourism accounted for 6.2 per
cent of the Hong Kong’s economy in 2010, according to official
figures.
IPEN Report on Rio+20 Chemical and Waste commitments
Download PDF : IPEN Report back on Rio+20 – 20Jun2012
CUHK to start 10-year plan on Ka Ho residents’ health
Home | Macau | CUHK to start 10-year plan on Ka Ho residents’ health
CUHK to start 10-year plan on Ka Ho residents’ health
18/06/2012 10:05:00
The government has commissioned the Chinese University of Hong Kong for a 10-year study of health conditions of the residents in Ka Ho, where local people complained of illness due to the air pollution from ashes from the nearby incinerator. The Health Bureau said they had agreed with the university on the detailed procedures of the study to monitor the health conditions of residents in the area near Hac Sa. The University was quoted as saying details of the monitoring mechanism and study methodologies would be disclosed to the public next month. Preliminary arrangements require an annual report to be published, but the final conclusion will be ten years away. The Health Bureau said the study will be conducted scientifically, impartially and independently in a professional manner. The health issues were discovered early last year when hundreds of residents, many of them students and teachers in the schools there, complained of lung and respiratory problems after the contractor working the incinerator was found to have broken safety regulations by disposing of the ashes into open areas, and a large amount of them carried to residential districts by wind
IMPERIAL COLLEGE UK STUDY
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2012 19:05
To: ‘dynamco@netvigator.com‘; ‘chair@cleartheair.org.hk‘
Cc: Andrew Tristem; ‘Frances Pollitt’; ‘Kelly, Frank’; Elliott, Paul
Subject: FW: Incinerator study
Dear Mr Middleton
Thank you for your enquiry on behalf of ‘Clear The Air’ in Hong Kong.
The English Health Protection Agency announced last week that they have approved funding for a Small Area Health Statistics Unit study to investigate whether there is any potential link between municipal waste incinerators and reproductive health – see
This is for a two year study starting in April 2012. Results will be made publicly available once accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
Best wishes
Anna Hansell
(Dr) Anna Hansell MB BChir MA MRCP MSc PhD FFPH
Clinical Senior Lecturer
Assistant Director, Small Area Health Statistics Unit (SAHSU)
MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
School of Public Health Faculty of Medicine
Imperial College London St Mary’s Campus, Norfolk Place LONDON W2 1PG
Phone: +44 (0)20 7594 3344
Fax: +44 (0)20 7594 0768
Email: a.hansell@imperial.ac.uk
From: James Middleton [mailto:dynamco@netvigator.com]
Sent: 30 January 2012 09:43
To: Kelly, Frank; p.elliott@imperial.ac.uk
Subject: Incinerator study
Dear Prof Elliott,
We are an NGO Charity based in Hong Kong.
Our website is www.cleartheair.org.hk
Could you please tell us what is the status of your Unit’s investigation regarding possible incinerator proximity dangers and when the study would likely be complete ?
Kind regards
James Middleton
Chairman
Patrons:
Professor Judith Mackay
Professor Anthony Hedley
Inquiry is ordered into incinerators and health hazards they may pose
An investigation is to be launched – the first of its kind in this country – into whether incinerators present a risk to public health.
by Mark Metcalf
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011
A team from Imperial College, London, has been commissioned to carry out the inquiry by the Health Protection Agency after fears were raised about the health risks of incinerators, particularly for young children.
Dozens of incinerators have been built around the country as Britain struggles to cope with its mounting refuse problems. But campaigners have become concerned that the price is being paid with poor health among babies and infants in the localities where such amenities are sited. One such activist is Michael Ryan, who lives in Shrewsbury, and who lost his only daughter at 14 weeks – and then suffered further personal tragedies when his teenage son and his mother both died, too. All lived downwind of an incinerator.
Mr Ryan began a painstaking piece of research into the subject of health – and deaths – of people living in close proximity to incinerators. The results from London are startling. In 12 of the capital’s 625 wards, there were no infant deaths between 2002 and 2008. But Southwark, which has two incinerators close by, had the highest rate with 7.2 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in that period.
Critics say it’s not microscopic particles from incinerators that kill babies and young children, but poverty. And while it is true that some people living close to incinerators are at the lower end of the social scale, Mr Ryan’s research reveals that death rates in more affluent middle class areas are higher if there is an incinerator nearby. Affluent Chingford Green ward in Waltham Forest has the second highest average number of child deaths in London. It happens to be close to Britain’s largest incinerator. “If it’s all about poverty, then how come the levels of infant mortality in countryside areas, where wages have always been below average, aren’t high?” asks Mr Ryan.
Now, to cries of “at last” from Mr Ryan, HPA head Justin McCracken has said that following discussions with Professor Paul Elliott, head of the Small Area Health Statistics Unit at Imperial College, it has been “concluded that an epidemiological study of birth outcomes around municipal waste incinerators would produce reliable results. Work is now progressing in developing a detailed proposal for what will be a complex study.”
In 2004, a study in Japan found a “peak decline in risk with distance from the municipal solid waste incinerators for infant deaths and infant deaths with all congenital malformations combined”.
Small Area Health Statistics Unit, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
E(12/1466) Euro 6 subsidy by Dutch Govt (HKG still has Euro II and III polluting bus trash on its roads)
From: paulwong@epd.gov.hk [mailto:paulwong@epd.gov.hk]
Sent: 19 June, 2012 17:07
To: dynamco@netvigator.com
Cc: “E[KM]1″@epd.gov.hk; “SI[KM]1″@epd.gov.hk; enquiry@epd.gov.hk; vanessaau@epd.gov.hk
Subject: Fw: E(12/1466) Euro 6 subsidy by Dutch Govt (HKG still has Euro II and III polluting bus trash on its roads)
Dear Mr. Middleton
Thank you for your email.
When we tighten the vehicle emission standards in Hong Kong, we will make reference to the international practice and the availability of compliant vehicle models in Hong Kong. Starting from June 2012, all newly registered heavy duty vehicles including franchised buses in Hong Kong are required to comply with Euro V emission standards. The European Union will implement the Euro VI emission standards for heavy duty vehicle in phases starting from 2013 and fully implement in 2014. At the moment, there is no Euro VI heavy duty vehicle available in Hong Kong. We will continue to monitor the Euro VI vehicle model supply situation in Hong Kong and decide to introduce the Euro VI emission standards in Hong Kong as soon as possible.
For franchised buses, as the latest commercially available models in Hong Kong are Euro V buses at this stage, the franchised bus companies are currently procuring Euro V buses for replacement.
Thanks
Paul Wong
Assistant Environmental Protection Officer
—– Forwarded by EPD_Enquiry/EPD/HKSARG on 14/06/2012 14:48 —–
| EPD_Enquiry/EPD/HKSARG
14/06/2012 14:48 |
|
Dear James Middleton,
Thank you for your email dated 13.06.2012.
I would like to inform you that our colleagues are processing your request and may need a few more days to come back to you.
Please let me know if you do not hear from us after about 5 working days. Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Enquiry/KMU
Environmental Protection Department
| “James Middleton” <dynamco@netvigator.com>
13/06/2012 19:52 |
|
Dear EPD,
We note that replacement buses in Hong Kong under franchise agreements must be of the Best Available Current Technology.
Does Hong Kong have Euro 6 diesel ?
Are new diesel buses here mandated to be Euro 6 compliant, given the projected lifetime of the vehicles ?
If not why not ?
Yours sincerely,
James Middleton
Chairman
www.cleartheair.org.hk
Dutch subsidy for Euro VI trucks and buses
In the Netherlands, heavy-duty vehicles(trucks and buses) that meet the new Euro
VI standards will be subsidised by up to 4500 euro each in 2012 and 2013. The Euro
VI standards will become mandatory for all new heavy-duty vehicles from 2014.
Tests by the Dutch environment consultancy TNO have shown that the new
Euro VI engines can reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by more than
90 per cent in real driving conditions, as compared to Euro V and earlier Eurostandard
engines.
Source: Dutch government press release, 30 May 2012.
Link: http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/nieuws/2012/05/30/subsidie-voor-schoonste-trucks-en-bussen.html
“The sulphur content of ship fuels will be cut to 0.1% from 2015 in the Baltic Sea and the North
Sea, and to 0.5% from 2020 in other EU waters. As a result, emissions of sulphur dioxide
from shipping in Europe will come down by more than 80 per cent.”
Hong Kong has no rules governing the use of bunker fuel which varies between 2.75 – 4+% sulphur ,
no Emissions Control Area legislation (ECA).
The local HKG Environmental Prevarication Department passes the responsibility to China to enact ECA legislation in Hong Kong waters
leaving only volunteer action by the Fairwinds Charter members to burn Low Sulphur Diesel at anchor in HKG port. Yet vehicular ULSD is rightly
limited to parts per million.
31% of HKG’s particulates and 25% of local NOx and Sox come from marine emissions.
Hong Kong Islands District Association Study Trip to Singapore
Introduction
Notification for this trip stated:
“Due to the current issue of Integrated Waste Management Facilities and its public consultation which introduced by HKSAR government, that is also a key consideration by residents from islands district of HK. The Hong Kong Islands District Association (HKIDA) is now taking the lead to organize a mission study trip to Singapore during 29 May –1 June 2012.”
“We hereby invite you to join this trip as a starter to explore the history and current situation of what Singapore has been worked through in Waste Management in both positive and negative way. If you are not available to join, we would like to request your designated representative to participate this trip. HKIDA hopes to have your on-going participation and support to the series of workshops in the islands district afterwards.”
This trip allocated 50 places, heavily subvented by the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) 1, for members of the HKIDA, Islands District Council members, Islands Rural Committee members, members of Government Agencies (for example the Productivity Council), representatives of Environmental and Community Concern Groups and a Public Relations and Communications company (Wasabi Creation Public Relations & Communications Ltd)2.
IntroductionNotification for this trip stated:“Due to the current issue of Integrated Waste Management Facilities and its public consultation which introduced by HKSAR government, that is also a key consideration by residents from islands district of HK. The Hong Kong Islands District Association (HKIDA) is now taking the lead to organize a mission study trip to Singapore during 29 May –1 June 2012.”“We hereby invite you to join this trip as a starter to explore the history and current situation of what Singapore has been worked through in Waste Management in both positive and negative way. If you are not available to join, we would like to request your designated representative to participate this trip. HKIDA hopes to have your on-going participation and support to the series of workshops in the islands district afterwards.”This trip allocated 50 places, heavily subvented by the Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) of the Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC) 1, for members of the HKIDA, Islands District Council members, Islands Rural Committee members, members of Government Agencies (for example the Productivity Council), representatives of Environmental and Community Concern Groups and a Public Relations and Communications company (Wasabi Creation Public Relations & Communications Ltd)2.
Download PDF : Untitled attachment 00711
Poor track record on air pollution
SCMP – 19 June 2012
Hong Kong’s leaders have promised cleaner air to little or no effect.
Promises are made and routinely broken, and the people of this city suffer in consequence.
A government exists for the benefit of the people, not itself; it is supposed to protect its citizens.
How is it that London, Paris, New York and Rome have reduced air pollution to levels below the World Health Organisation’s recommendations yet Hong Kong could not manage it?
Why does it use an air pollution index based on 20-year-old air quality objectives?
Incentives to change behaviour don’t work, only tough and uncompromising laws will.
The administration must stop backpedalling on laws designed to improve air quality.
Our leaders should be ashamed for what they have allowed to happen to our amazing city.
Randall van der Woning, Tai Po
Idling engine law has all but stalled
SCMP – 19 June 2012
Legislation that is enacted but not enforced is nothing more than meaningless text on the statute books. It is even more absurd when weak legislation continues to be watered down unnoticed after its passage into law. A case in point is the much-criticised law against idling engines, which seeks to combat roadside air pollution. After 14 years of negotiations, the law finally came into force six months ago. But slack enforcement and an array of exemptions still leave a lot to be desired. To ease the impact of the ban, the government issued only verbal warnings in the first month. However, despite 180 spot check operations over the past few months, no penalty ticket has been issued so far. Questions have to be asked whether all drivers have suddenly turned green or whether enforcement has been slack. Indeed, the public could be excused for wondering whether the government is determined to punish drivers who leave the engines of stationary vehicles running.
More disturbingly, as this newspaper has reported, the director of environmental protection last month exercised her discretionary power to exempt 200 vehicles operated by welfare agencies to carry the elderly or operate as mobile clinics. This is in addition to more than a dozen exemptions already passed by the legislature last summer. The approval for this was gazetted without publicity and explained only when asked by our reporter.
Any exemption is effectively a licence to pollute. That is why it should be exercised with great caution. It is disappointing that the official who is supposed to act like a guardian for a clean environment has quietly exercised her power without public scrutiny. The need for more transparency and accountability is evident.
The hot season is putting the law to the test. The tolerant approach over past six months has given drivers more than enough time to get used to the new rules. It is time for enforcers to act tough. Every effort must be made to show the ban on idling engines is not just a cosmetic exercise in the fight against air pollution.