對於近日在担竿洲路的魚塘因為高鐵工程而造成泥漿溢出，以致其後造成塘壆倒塌等一連串事件，香港觀鳥會深感憂慮。
受影響的魚塘正參與本會與漁民合作的生態漁塘管理協議計劃。此計劃旨在提高魚塘的生態價值，尤其為鳥類提供合適的生境。本會會定期派員到担竿洲路的魚塘進行鳥類調查，並曾錄得瀕危鳥類，包括全球瀕危的黑臉琵鷺以及極危的勺嘴鷸。
香港觀鳥會一直就事件有監察相關的魚塘，但情況不斷惡化。由先前在魚塘冒出氣泡，發展到有大量泥漿從高鐵地面勘探工程遺下的洞溢出，以至近日魚塘塘壆倒塌，一連串發生的事件已經對相關的魚塘及蘆葦叢等高生態價值生境造成不良的影響。
香港觀鳥會已向港鐵公司表達對事件的憂慮，而港鐵亦迅速作出補救措施並監察情況，但事件的真正原因仍有待調查。由於高鐵米埔段的隧道鑽探工程尚未完成，本會擔心以上事件會引發對該區的濕地造成進一步的破壞。
為了顧及担竿洲路使用者的安全，以及保護具高保育價值的后海灣生態系統，香港觀鳥會要求港鐵在重新開展高鐵鑽探工程之前，盡快對以上事件進行全面的調查及找出事件的原因。
The Hong Kong Bird Watching Society (HKBWS) is concerned about the damage to fishpond and reedbed at Tam Kon Chau Road caused by the construction works of the Guangzhou - Shenzhen - Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL).
The affected fishpond is under our “Hong Kong Got Fishpond – Eco-fishpond Management Agreement Scheme”, which is an approved Nature Conservation Management Agreement Project aiming to enhance the conservation value of commercial fishponds, especially for avifauna, through the partnership with local fish farmers. Regular bird surveys were conducted in the Tam Kon Chau area and species of conservation concern were recorded, including the globally Endangered Black-faced Spoonbill (
Platalea minor) and the globally Critically Endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper (
Eurynorhynchus pygmeus).
The HKBWS has been monitoring the area and we noticed the situation of the affected fishpond is worsening. From the emerging of air bubbles in the fishpond, to the overflowing of mud from a borehole created by the previous ground investigation work of XRL at the pond bund, then to the collapse of the affected fishpond bund. These incidents have already cause adverse ecological impacts on the fishpond and the nearby reedbed, which are of high ecological value.
The HKBWS contacted the MTR Corporation Limited (MTR) to express our concerns. Immediate actions were taken by the MTR to control and monitor the problem; however, the real causes of these incidents are yet to be found. As the drilling works of the XRL has not completed yet, we are concerned these incidents would lead to a greater impact on the wetlands in the area.
Therefore, in order to ensure the safety of the users of Tam Kon Chau Road and safeguard the ecosystem of the internationally important Deep Bay area, the HKBWS would like to urge the MTR to immediately conduct comprehensive assessment in the area and identify the cause of these incidents before resuming the construction work of the XRL.
泥漿從地面勘探洞溢出，淹沒担竿洲路一段車路(攝於8月7日)
Mud overflowing from the borehole and flooded a section of Tam Kon Chau Road (photograph taken on 7 August)
魚塘冒出的氣泡，揚起傾瀉入魚塘的泥漿(攝於8月7日)
Air bubbles emerging in the fishpond, stirring up the mud that spilt into the pond (photograph taken on 7 August)
充滿泥漿的蘆葦叢(攝於8月7日)
Muddy water flowed into a stream with reed (photograph taken on 7 August)
從担竿洲路上的裂縫冒出的氣泡(攝於8月7日)
Air bubbles emerging from the cracks on Tam Kon Chau Road (photograph taken on 7 August)
承建商嘗試填補泥漿溢出的洞(攝於8月7日)
The contractors are trying to stop the mud overflow by sealing the hole (photograph taken on 7 August)
泥漿溢出的洞用石屎及沙包封妥(攝於8月8日)
The hole which was overflowing with mud was sealed with concrete and sandbag (photograph taken on 8 August)
魚塘塘壆倒塌(攝於8月10日)
The collapse of the fishpond bund (photograph taken on 10 August)
