In response to a recent project proposal “The Baroque on Lamma,” WWF has submitted our views to the Town Planning Board and the Environmental Protection expressing serious concerns on its large development scale and potential impacts to various wildlife habitats. The submissions were made during the statuatory public consultation process under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO) and Town Planning Ordinance (TPO).

The proposed project of over 85 hectares is expected to incur various adverse impacts to the marine and terrestial environment of southeast Lamma, including but not limited to the following:

The Sham Wan Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) – the only regular nesting site of the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) in Hong Kong
Habitats of endemic Romer’s tree frog (Liuixalus romeri) – Hong Kong is one and only place in the world where Romer’s tree frogs naturally occur, and Lamma is one of the four local islands they naturally inhibit
Tung O Wan - a to-be-proven important habitat for the vulnerable finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)

Vegetation clearance, site formation and infrastructural construction during the construction phase, as well as the increasing level of human activities and water usage during the operation phase will induce significant disturbance to the sensitive and vulnerable habitats and wildlife. WWF considers this project is incompatible with the planning intention of the area and it will incur significant ecological impacts to the environment, undermining the ecological integrity of the habitats at Tung O and its surrounding areas.

Download

Submission to Town Planning Board by WWF

PDF

568 KB

Submission to Director of Environmental Protection by WWF

PDF

293 KB

Rezoning application under the Town Planning Board Project Profile submitted for Application for EIA Study Brief under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance