(English version follows)
新田科技城環評報告於新年假期前 (2/2)公佈，當中生態影響評估出現明顯錯誤，包括認錯多種雀鳥物種，容易低估發展對后海灣濕地的生態影響。
報告附件10.2中三張雀鳥記錄相片註釋圖文不符：
(1)「林鷸」的相片下標註為「澤鷸」；
(2)「長趾濱鷸」的相片下標註為「小濱鷸」；
(3)標註為「鳳頭鷹」的相片畫質有限，但相信並非「鳳頭鷹」，而是鷹屬的其他小型猛禽
到底上述錯誤是「打錯字」抑或「認錯雀」？當雀鳥作為后海灣濕地保育的重要物種同指標，而環評報告作為一份專業而且有法定效力的文件，香港觀鳥會對這類錯誤感到詫異。不單會低估發展對生態環境同各種生物的影響，更會影響報告的可信度，更令人質疑新田科技城對環評的「莊嚴」程度。
后海灣濕地是大灣區僅存最完整的沿海濕地系統，應予以莊嚴以待。我們期望相關當局及環境咨詢委員會，會嚴格審查該環評報告，確保環評報告提供正確、可靠且全面的生態基線資料，令潛在環境影響可以得到嚴格評估，以及避免任何發展對濕地系統造成不可逆轉的破壞。
政府就新田科技城環境影響評估報告展開的公眾諮詢倒數最後10日，把握最後機會，於2024年3月2日或之前將意見電郵至
eiaocomment@epd.gov.hk 或 經網上遞交意見：
https://shorturl.at/gtvKO
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【San Tin EIA misidentified bird species?】
The EIA report for the San Tin Technopole was released before the Lunar New Year holiday (2/2), and the 30-day statutory consultation period is now coming to an end with 10 more days to go. We spotted a few apparent errors in the ecological impact assessment (EcoIA) of the EIA report. In Appendix 10.2 of the EcoIA, some of the bird photographs and the corresponding names do not match.
(1) The photo of Wood Sandpiper is written as Marsh Sandpiper.
(2) The photo of Long-toed Stint is labelled as Little Stint.
(3) The photo annotated Crested Goshawk, despite the limited image quality, is believed to be another small raptor species within the Accipiter family instead of Crested Goshawk.
Although we are not sure whether these errors are due to "typo " or "misidentification of birds", given that birds are important species and indicators for the conservation of the Deep Bay wetlands, while the EIA report is a professional and legally binding document, we are surprised by such mistakes. This may not only leads to underestimation of the impact of development on the ecological environment and wildlife, but also affects the credibility of the report, raising doubts about the "seriousness" of the impact assessment of the San Tin Technopole.
Deep Bay wetland is the most intact coastal wetland system remaining in the Greater Bay Area, and it should be treated with great care. We hope the relevant authorities and the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) would rigorously review the EIA report, ensuring that it provides accurate, reliable, and comprehensive ecological baseline data, so as to enable a comprehensive evaluation of potential environmental impacts and to prevent irreversible damage to the wetland system caused by any developments.
The public consultation on the EIA report for the San Tin Technopole has started. Please seize the final opportunity and submit your comments via email to
eiaocomment@epd.gov.hk or online:
https://shorturl.at/elAZ8 before 2 March 2024
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