📋 Tender Overview
The Environmental Protection Department EPD announced regarding the application submitted by the Civil Engineering and Development Department CEDD under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance EIAO that the Director of Environmental Protection DEP yesterday December 18 approved the Environmental Impact Assessment EIA report for the Development at Ngau Tam Mei Area the Project with conditions
The Project is a designated project DP under Schedule 3 of the EIAO ie an urban development or redevelopment project covering an area of more than 50 hectares It includes two DPs under Schedule 2 of the EIAO requiring an environmental permit for its construction and operation including the new distributor roads and part of the revitalisation of the Ngau Tam Mei Drainage Channel NTMDC and river diversion works
The CEDD has exhibited the EIA report for public inspection from October 6 to November 4 2025 in accordance with the EIAO During the public inspection period the EPD received a total of seven public comments The EIA Subcommittee of the Advisory Council on the Environment ACE discussed in detail the EIA report and the public comments at its meeting on December 5 2025 Subsequently the ACE unanimously recommended that the EPD approved the EIA report with conditions and recommendations at its meeting on December 11 2025
A spokesperson for the EPD said that the DEP considers that through the implementation of mitigation measures recommended in the EIA report the Project will bring multiple environmental benefits to the area These include addressing the existing adverse environmental impacts caused by scattered and disorganised brownfield operations within the project area thereby enhancing landuse efficiency and improving the overall environmental quality of the district Furthermore by widening and revitalising the NTMDC into a multifunctional bluegreen spine the ecological value and function of the project area and its surroundings can be enhanced In addition through wetland compensation connecting nearby isolated wetlands the Project will increase the overall ecological value of the area
The spokesperson stressed that the EPD has thoroughly considered the requirements of the EIA Study Brief and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process comments on the environment and ecological impacts raised by the public during the public inspection period of the EIA report suggestions and data given by green groups in respect of the EIA report including the State of Hong Kong Biodiversity 2025 published by the WWFHong Kong and the response from the CEDD during the ACE meeting as well as comments and recommended conditions raised by the ACE on approving the EIA report The EPD decided to approve the EIA report with conditions
The approval conditions mainly include requiring the CEDD to
i submit a detailed Habitat Creation and Management Plan HCMP as recommended in the EIA report to the DEP for approval no later than three months before the commencement of construction of the Project and consult the Agricultural fisheries and Conservation Department AFCD
ii submit an Implementation Plan for Ecological Enhancement Features Design IPEEFD for the NTMDC to the DEP for approval no later than three months before commencement of construction of the Project and consult relevant government departments including the AFCD the Drainage Services Department and the Planning Department
iii set up an Environmental Committee to provide professional and stakeholders advice on the preparation of HCMP and IPEEFD and on the effectiveness of the ecological mitigationenhancement measures as recommended in the EIA report and the two approved abovementioned plans and
iv submit a BirdFriendly Design Guideline for buildings and noise barriers within the Project area to the DEP for approval before commencement of construction of the Project
In addition the CEDD shall review the progress of the implementation of various plans the environmental monitoring results and the effectiveness of ecological mitigationenhancement measures The EPD will continue to closely liaise with relevant government departments to follow up on the abovementioned approval conditions
The approved EIA report and the approval conditions have been uploaded to the EPDs EIAO website Members of the public may also visit the EIAO Register Office at 27th floor Southorn Centre Wan Chai to inspect these documents
