The Civil Engineering Department (CED) will consult the public on the preferred option of the land formation and infrastructure works for a new prison complex at Hei Ling Chau.
The preferred option has been drawn up after CED and its consultant balanced the merits and demerits of a set of preliminary options and taken into account the public views received in the earlier round of public consultation.
The consultant was commissioned by CED in September, 2003, to conduct a two-stage consultancy study to examine the engineering feasibility of the land formation and infrastructure works for a new prison complex at Hei Ling Chau.
Since then, the consultant has carried out technical assessments on eight preliminary options of land formation and four preliminary options of fixed crossing based on a set of criteria covering various aspects including landscape and visual impact, ecology and other environmental impacts, land use, transport, social issues, engineering and cost.
A CED spokesman said the preferred option comprised reclamation of about 80 hectares of land within the Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter, a 2.2 km bridge linking Hei Ling Chau and Mui Wo, and a 350m bypass around the Mui Wo town. New breakwaters would be constructed for reprovisioning the anchorage area affected by the reclamation.
"The preferred option will accommodate the new prison complex within the existing typhoon shelter. The key advantages are less visual impact on the surrounding areas due to effective screening of the prison facilities by the existing topography, minimal impact on the marine and terrestrial ecology, and minimal impact on tidal flow and water quality.
"Since the impact on the natural topography and vegetation on Hei Ling Chau will be minimal, the conservation potential of Hei Ling Chau and the nearby Sunshine Island will not be affected," the spokesman said.
He added that the bridge would run from the northwest corner of Hei Ling Chau to the eastern end of Mui Wo Ferry Pier Road at Mui Wo.
"The key advantages are minimal impact on the existing and planned land uses at Mui Wo, minimal impact on the Lantau South Country Park, and minimal impact on the marine and terrestrial ecology.
"The existing archaeological sites at Mui Wo will not be affected. Also, with a bypass around Mui Wo town, the operational traffic of the prison development can directly gain access to South Lantau Road without going through Mui Wo town.
"However, the bridge would have potential visual impact, particularly for the residents of Mui Wo. The consultant will examine various mitigation measures in stage 2 of the feasibility study," he said.
Starting from early June, 2004, CED will meet representatives from local communities, environmental groups and other interest groups to gauge their views on the preferred option. The views will form a valuable input for the further assessment and refinement of the preferred option.
Public enquiries and views may be directed to the Development Division of the CED (tel.: 2762 5670; fax: 2714 0079 or e-mail: enquiry@cedd.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, May 31, 2004
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