Lau Wong Fat, Executive Councilor, Legislative Councilor, Tuen Mun District Councilor and Heung Yee Kuk representative, has accumulated agricultural land and village rights in the western part of the New Territories and is now for the third time trying to gain Town Planning Board approval for a massive development.
The development is not for the benefit of villagers in need of a home for family members, but simply to make a buck out of luxury residential property smack in the middle of another area of untouched beauty in Hong Kong. Like Sai Wan, approval of this application will promote similar attempts in other protected or sensitive rural areas.
Click here to submit your views on Pak Nai to the Town Planning Board before mid-nite August 27
The development proposal has no merit
There is no social or economic pressure to warrant this development which is completely inappropriate in relation to the zoning intentions, irrespective of the un-bankable protective proposals it has included:
1. The agriculture land is specifically designated to “retain and safeguard good quality agricultural land/fish ponds for agricultural purposes”.
2. The area is part of a rural landscape surrounded by a Coastal Protection Area “intended to conserve, protect and retain the natural coastlines and the sensitive coastal natural environment”.
3. Cost of public infrastructure including road widening and re-alignment of planned routes required would be enormous, and disproportionate to the planning gain.
4. 70% of the application area is part of the Ha Pak Nai Archaeological Site with important historical remains confirming “the position of Hong Kong in the history of Chinese culture” lies in the centre of the proposed development. For this reason, the site was previously deemed unsuitable for the Integrated Waste Management Facility.
5. Development will have considerable impact on the Deep Bay Water Control Zone;
6. The habitats supporting horseshoe crabs, including spawning grounds, a nursery crèche for juvenile horseshoe crabs and adult foraging grounds will be impacted;
7. The sea-grass beds, the largest in Hong Kong, are extremely vulnerable to pollution, particularly land runoff and siltation from soil erosion during development and from road run-off;
8. Two egretries, including the largest Little Egret breeding colony in Hong Kong, owe their existence to the solitude of the area;
9. The streams and intertidal mudflats are foraging grounds for Black-faced Spoonbills in the winter months. The slightest disturbance and these shy birds will flee.
10. Previous ecological assessments for the Deep Bay Coastal Road remain valid. Development will bring serious ecological impacts to coastal and off shore areas of high ecological value, destroying habitats and fragmenting and disturbing the remainder. Disturbance and water quality changes, will impact horseshoes crabs, breeding herons and egrets. The only mitigation measure is avoidance of construction and development all together.
Protection and conservation measures required
The application for an OU(RU) “other uses (rural uses)” zoning is misleading as it disguises a Comprehensive Development Area application. The Town Planning Board should reject this application and put in place protection measures of this area and the nearby coastline. A comprehensive environmental impact assessment should be carried before any rezoning for development is considered, and any development should be considered to be a Designated Project under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.
Your views
Click here to submit your views on the development of Pak Nai
http://www.designinghongkong.com/forms/view.php?id=10
More information
http://www.facebook.com/pages/xiang-bao-hu-bai-ni-shuo-de-Say-Yes-to-the-Protection-of-Pak-Nai/139949922707669?ref=mf
Development and zoning application details
http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/en/plan_application/Y_YL-PN_3.html
Gist of application
http://www.info.gov.hk/tpb/tc/plan_application/Attachment/20100806/s12a_Y_YL-PN_3_0_gist.pdf
WWF website on Pak Nai
http://wwf.org.hk/en/?2640/WWF-opposes-to-the-rezoning-application-at-Ha-Pak-Nai
Archaeological value of Pak Nai
LCSD's Geographical System on Hong Kong Heritage (2010)
http://www5.lcsd.gov.hk/gishinter/html/viewer_en.htm
Home Affairs Bureau (2002) Heritage and Culture Commission Report
http://www.hab.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/policy_responsibilities/CHC-ConsultationPaper2002_E.pdf
Siu Kwok Kin (1998) Journal of the Hong Kong Archaeological Society XIV 1993-1997, published by Hong Kong Archaeological Society
http://www.facebook.com/pages/xiang-bao-hu-bai-ni-shuo-de-Say-Yes-to-the-Protection-of-Pak-Nai/139949922707669?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=12548&id=139949922707669
Ecological value of Pak Nai
Environmental Protection Department (2008) Integrated Waste Management Facility
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/studyrpts/files/IWMF_Site_Selection_Report_Eng.pdf
Planning Department (2000) Feasibility Study for Additional Cross-border Links
http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/p_study/comp_s/cbl/CBLstudy_stage2_eng/index_e.htm
Ecological Assessment report on Pak Nai 2000
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12664&id=139949922707669
Horseshoe Crab in Pak Nai
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12475&id=139949922707669&saved
Black-faced Spoonbills in Pak Nai
http://www.facebook.com/pages/xiang-bao-hu-bai-ni-shuo-de-Say-Yes-to-the-Protection-of-Pak-Nai/139949922707669?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=12479&id=139949922707669
Fiddler crab in Pak Nai
http://www.facebook.com/pages/xiang-bao-hu-bai-ni-shuo-de-Say-Yes-to-the-Protection-of-Pak-Nai/139949922707669?v=photos&ref=ts#!/album.php?aid=12655&id=139949922707669
Pyrops in Pak Nai
http://www.facebook.com/pages/xiang-bao-hu-bai-ni-shuo-de-Say-Yes-to-the-Protection-of-Pak-Nai/139949922707669?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=13714&id=139949922707669
Osprey in Pak Nai
http://www.facebook.com/pages/xiang-bao-hu-bai-ni-shuo-de-Say-Yes-to-the-Protection-of-Pak-Nai/139949922707669?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=12652&id=139949922707669
Black Vulture in Pak Nai
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6921988&fbid=485368593081&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=139949922707669&id=645998081