Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu welcomed the conditional endorsement of an environmental impact assessment report from the Advisory Council on the Environment on filling in the fishponds in San Tin, saying that the government will ensure the project satisfies all relevant legal regulations.
The council “unanimously agreed to endorse the environmental impact assessment report with eight conditions and seven recommendations,” chairman John Chai Yat-chiu said on Monday, with the project set to kick-off in 2026.
The conditional endorsement came despite criticism from at least 10 environmental protection organizations.
On Tuesday, Lee was asked if he was worried that the environmental impact assessment report would be challenged by a judicial review and he replied that the government’s report has always been conducted professionally and in a serious manner.
The report also complies with the provisions under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance and its technical memorandum, Lee added.
The Hong Kong leader said the project will be moved forward as scheduled and in accordance with all legal regulations. The Town Planning Board will also grant approval according to the relevant legal procedures.
He noted that he will request the project to add value to the overall ecology of San Tin through different alleviation measures and repair works.
He also pointed out that it won’t be a proactive environmentally friendly policy to conserve a large area of the ponds if they have been abandoned or there are no fish at all.
Hong Kong United Times丨香港聯合時報丨HKUT 