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Our News
WWF Survey Shows Government is placing too much Emphasis on Economic Development 43 per cent of respondents think AAHK’s suggestions are ineffective
The Advisory Council on the Environment meet this week to review the Third Runway Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report. To gain a deeper understanding of the public’s views regarding the Third Runway EIA, in July, 2014 WWF-Hong Kong commissioned The Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey to conduct a survey Third Runway EIA and Conservation.
Of the total number of respondents (1,026), 58 per cent thought that the HKSAR government is placing too much emphasis on economic development, while only 22 per cent thought that the government is currently striking a good balance between economic development and environmental protection. Only 12 per cent felt that they understand the report.
Forty-seven per cent of respondents supported the construction of the third runway. Compared to a similar survey conducted by AAHK in 2011, where 73 per cent of respondents supported the third runway project, there appears to have been a 26 per cent drop in support for the construction of the third runway.
Regarding the impacts on Hong Kong’s Chinese white dolphins (CWDs), more than half of the respondents (55%) thought that the third runway will create large impacts on the CWD population. However, 44 per cent considered that the suggestion made in the EIA report whereby a new marine park will be established after the completion of the project to be either ineffective or very ineffective. Moreover, 36 per cent of respondents do not think that the CWDs will return after the completion of the project, while 35 per cent doubt that the CWDs will return at all. A total of 42% of the respondents think there is not enough Marine Protected Area for dolphin conservation in Lantau waters.
“The survey results show that the public doubts the effectiveness of the mitigation measures proposed by AAHK. Thus, no green light should be given for the third runway until effective mitigation measures can be proposed”, says Ms Samantha Lee, Assistant Conservation Manager, Marine for WWF-Hong Kong.
Regarding the insufficient Chinese white dolphin conservation measures, WWF-Hong Kong also urges the authorities to implement the following conservation measures as soon as possible, regardless of whether the EIA is approved:
- A Marine Protected Area covering the still-unprotected core dolphin habitats in West Lantau extending to the Soko Islands should be designated without further delay;
- High speed marine vessel traffic between Lantau Island and Soko Islands should be re-routed to allow the dolphins to use their core habitats without hindrance; and
- A comprehensive management plan that addresses the many serious threats faced by Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong should be developed and implemented by all relevant government departments.