How to improve HK's coastal protection

How to go about improving HK's coastal protection

Typhoon Mangkhut packing extreme winds and storm surge hit Hong Kong on 16 September 2018. Hundreds of vessels ended up stranded, sunk or damaged. Flooding had an impact on coastal structures including sewage treatment works, public beaches, and waterfront promenades in coastal areas.  Electricity and fresh water supply was interrupted for 40,000 households.

CEDD has since commissioned a "Study of Coastal Hazards under Climate Change and Extreme Weather and Formulation of Improvement Measures - Feasibility Study" to assess the impacts of climate change, extreme weather and storm surges for low lying areas.

Regrettably CEDD has no plans to consult others. They will merely tell people whether they have a problem, but they do not plan to implement solutions. “The scope of the Study is mainly to assess the impacts to low-lying coastal and windy locations from marine engineering point of view, but does not include collecting inputs or details from other parties on their enhancement project.” “Based on the outcomes of the Study, appropriate coastal protection measures would be formulated to facilitate the relevant Government Departments to consider strengthening the resilience to wave impacts at the coastal areas.”

We call on the government to broaden the study to facilitate participation and cooperation of different government departments and local communities in the assessment, design and implementation. This will ensure that the measures cope effectively with both the coastal hazards under extreme weather as well as local requirements for area improvements. Early consultation and cooperation will ensure fewer objections, expedient implementation, greater efficiency, and better relations with the local community. In simple words – we get better solutions faster. Let us give a few examples.

In addition to protecting Sai Kung Town from rising sea levels and storms, residents need safe moorings for the many vessels operating in the area. We can combine the two with a typhoon shelter in front of the town.

Heng Fa Chuen needs a higher seawall. If the government pays for it instead of private property owners who abut the shore, we can make sure the new seawall includes a promenade for the public to use.

At Deep Water Bay, we need to improve storm protection, pedestrian connections, traffic flow and beach facilities. Given the limited space and existing infrastructure any improvement of the shoreline, road, parking, bus stops, footway, beach, and supporting facilities is interdependent. By coordinating the stakeholders and departments under one project we can make sure we get better outcomes in time for the next storm.

Coastal protection works can be a catalyst for making overall area improvements for everyone’s benefit. With guidance, funding and expertise from CEDD, we can have inclusive projects, avoid delays and build a better city for all.

(Based on article published in Southside Magazine - December 2019 issue)

急需改善沿岸防風措施

2018年9月16日，颱風山竹強襲香港，過百隻本地船隻擱淺、損毀或沉沒；海水淹沒了岸邊設施，包括污水系統、公眾泳灘及海濱長廊。另外，有近四萬戶的電力及供水系統受到影響。

風災過後，土木工程拓展署成立了「氣候變化和極端天氣下的沿岸災害研究及改善措施的制訂」工作小組（「災害研究」），以研究氣候改變、極端天氣及超強颱風對低窪地區的潛在影響。

然而土木工程拓展署並沒有計劃諮詢其他持份者。他們不會告訴個別群體各自的潛在危機，亦沒有計劃落實改善措施。「『災害研究』主要以航海工程（marine engineering）方向評估風災對沿岸低窪及強風地區的影響，但不會向其他持份者收集意見‥‥‥並將根據評估結果向相關政府部門提出海岸保護措施建議，以加強沿岸地區承受海浪的能力。」相關文件如是說。

我們敦促政府將「災害研究』的範疇擴展至協調不同政府部門及地區組織，在評估影響的同時設計並落實改善措施，以確保防風措施能抵禦極端氣候的同時，符合用家作設施改良的實際需要。及早諮詢及合作能吸納反對聲音，加快落實更有效的改善措施，亦可提升與地區群體的關係。一言蔽之：多快好省。下例：

西貢市中心除要面對風暴及海平面上升，亦需要更多穩固的船隻泊位以供當區眾多船隻使用。我們可將兩項措施合併為一個立於市中心對出的避風港。

杏花邨需要更高的海堤。若果海堤是由政府出資而非沿岸私人物業業主承擔，我們可以在海堤上另加一條海濱長廊作公眾使用。

在深水灣，我們需要一次過改善防風措施、行人路連接、交通網絡及泳灘設施。考慮到當區的已有設施及有限空間，任何在海濱的修繕工程，如道路、泊位、巴士站、行人路、泳灘及周邊配套等，都會互相影響。以單一整體項目協調持份者及不同部門，政府可確保在另一個山竹之前落實更好的保護措施。

海岸保護工程可催化整體環境的改善，照顧不同持份者的利益。有木土工程拓展署的指引、資金及專業意見，我們可以落實一些全面項目，減少延誤，並為眾人建設一個更好的城市。