Planning Department CE 60/2005 (TP) Land Use Planning for the Closed Area – Feasibility Study SEA Baseline and Key Issues Report

Summary of Final SEA Baseline and Key Issues Report

The existing Frontier Closed Area (FCA) (the Closed Area) was first established in 1951. The Security Bureau reviewed the extent of the Closed Area and announced on 7 September 2006 that the Closed Area boundary will be revised. In January 2008, the final revised Closed Area boundary was confirmed and about 2,400 hectares (ha) of land will be released from the original 2,800 ha Frontier Closed Area in phases. To examine the future use of the areas to be released fro the Closed Area and put them under planning control, this Study will carefully examine the development potential and constraints of these areas.

The purpose of SEA Baseline and Key Issues Report is to provide an overall understanding of the environment of the Study Area to facilitate subsequent planning works in the Study. This Report, together with Working Paper No. 1 of the Main Study, will define areas of ecological, historical and conservation importance for protection as well as development opportunities for assessment on their development potential.

The baseline review at this stage is carried out based on detailed desk-top study, preliminary on-site survey, and information gathered from government departments, non-governmental organisations and stakeholders. On-going ecological and archaeological surveys, baseline air quality, noise, water quality, solid waste, sewerage, hazardous facilities and installations and land contamination information collation will provide updated baseline data for justifying and assessing key issues of any specific land use framework in the later stages. Below is a summary of the general background information on the environment of the Study Area.

Ecology A number of ecological resources are found on the western and eastern parts of the Study Area, which are of conservation value and may pose development constraint where proper protection and mitigation measures are required. These ecological resources include: Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, Tam Kon Chau and Mai Po Village Egretries, Lok Ma Chau-San Tin Fishponds, Ho Sheung Heung Egretry, Lin Ma Hang Stream and Lead Mines Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Shrubland and Forest Areas from Lin Ma Hang to Pak Kung Au, Starling Inlet and SSSI.

Cultural Heritage A number of potential cultural heritage resources are identified scattering in the Study Area, which might have conservation value and may pose development constraint where proper protection and mitigation measures are required. A summary of areas with potential cultural heritage resources with the graded heritage features are listed below:

Sha Tau Kok Area Area Lok Ma Chau Area & Others

• Kong Ha • Lin Ma Hang Lok Ma Chau Area: • Shan Tsui • Heung Yuen Wai • Liu Pok • Sheung Tam Shui Hang • Ha Heung Yuen • Lok Ma Chau • Ha Tam Shui Hang • Tsung Yuen Ha • Tsiu Hang • Town: • Muk Min Tau • Tong Fong • San Lau Street • San Tsuen Sheung Wai • Muk Wu Nga Yiu • Chung Ying Street • Tong To • Muk Wu • Shun Lung Street • San Uk Ling • Shun Hing Street • Lei Uk • Fung Wong Wu Other Buildings: • • MacIntosh Forts at Ma Tso Lung, Nam Hang, Nga Yiu, Pak Fu Shan, Kong Shan and Pak Kung Au (Grade II Listed)

Air Quality The Study Area is located within the Deep Bay Airshed. Most Air Sensitive Receivers (ASRs) identified are residential premises, with a few schools and home for the aged. Potential air pollution sources include vehicular emissions along major roads, idling emissions from vehicle holding areas, roads and kiosks at the Boundary Control Points (BCPs), and odour emissions from the Sha Ling Livestock Waste Control Centre and Slaughter House. At present, the air quality of the

Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd May 2008 Planning Department CE 60/2005 (TP) Land Use Planning for the Closed Area – Feasibility Study SEA Baseline and Key Issues Report

Study Area generally complies with the Air Quality Objectives (AQOs). Potential air emission sources planned in the vicinity of the Study Area include the nearby New Development Areas (NDAs), the Northeast New Territories (NENT) Landfill and its extension, and the Poultry Central Slaughtering Plant. No polluting industries are planned on the Shenzhen side in proximity to the Study Area.

Noise The Noise Sensitive Receivers (NSRs) identified are mainly residential premises, with a few schools and home for the aged. No major industries are found in the Study Area, potential noise sources include road traffic noise, rail traffic noise, helicopter noise and noise from fixed sources (e.g. police firing ranges and BCPs). In general, the Study Area is a tranquil environment with increased noise level immediately along major roads, such as Lok Ma Chau Road, Road, Ping Che Road, Lin Ma Hang Road and Sha Tau Kok Road. The planning of new development in rural areas should adopt a more sensitive approach to preserve the existing tranquil environment and quality of life.

Water Quality The Study Area lies between Deep Bay Water Control Zone (WCZ) to the west and Mirs Bay WCZ to the east. Water Sensitive Receivers (WSRs) identified include Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site, Sha Tau Kok Fish Culture Zone, Ng Tung River, Ping Yuen River, Lin Ma Hang Stream SSSI, all natural streams (mainly at San Kwai Tin), mangroves at Starling Inlet and fish ponds at San Tin, Lok Ma Chau and Hoo Hok Wai. Rivers within the Study Area largely comply with Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) at upstream, with downstream falling short of regular compliance. Marine water quality in Deep Bay and Mirs Bay are likely to be constraint, given the requirement of no net increase in pollutant in Deep Bay. Mirs Bay is sensitive to increase in pollutant with its pristine conditions and slow flushing into open sea. There is no existing and planned sewerage system in the Study Area at present.

Solid Waste Solid waste in the Study Area comprises mainly of domestic and livestock wastes. Livestock wastes collected are delivered to Sha Ling Livestock Waste Control Centre for composting, with surplus delivered to landfills for disposal. Domestic wastes are collected regularly from the Refuse Collection Points (RCPs) for landfill disposal. Additional waste collection facilities will be required if the capacity of the existing facilities are exceeded.

Land Contamination Land use giving rise to potential land contamination are found outside the Study Area in Ping Che/Ta Kwu Ling. The impact of land contamination is usually localized. More detailed assessment will be required should there be sensitive development near these land uses. The Lok Ma Chau Loop contains a large amount of contaminated sediments, which is under studied by the “Hong Kong- Shenzhen Joint Task Force on Boundary District Development”. Subject to the development plan and corresponding remediation strategy, any off-site environmental impacts arising from the contaminated mud may need to be addressed.

Hazardous Facilities and Installations Potentially Hazardous Installation (PHI) (Sheung Shui Water Treatment Works) and landfills (Ma Tso Lung Restored Landfill, NENT Landfill and NENT Landfill Extension) are found in the vicinity of the Study Area. Proper societal risk (for PHI) and landfill gas hazard (for landfills) assessment shall be conducted if any development is proposed within their consultation zone, or along the inferred fault line nearby in the case for landfills.

Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Ltd May 2008