Disneyland development: Benefit or loss
Activities 3 and 4
Click the links below to access the slides:
Activity 3
- Definition of sustainable development
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
- Is EIA always reliable?
Activity 4
- City forum
- Summary
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Activity 3:
Sustainable
development and
Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA)
Sustainable development is a concept adopted
for the development of an area in which the
needs of environment, social and economic
development are carefully balanced, so as to
enable both the present and future generations
to enjoy a vibrant economy, social progress, as
well as a high quality environment.
What is
Environmental
Impact Assessment
(EIA)?
Every Development has
Environmental Impact
Air quality
Noise
Water quality
Waste management
Land contamination
Ecology
Fishery
Visual appearance
Cultural heritage
Hazards to life
EIA – Helping to Minimize
Environmental Impact
Environmental
Impact
EIA
Environmental
Impact
predicts or measures the environmental impact
 identifies ways to minimize impact
(e.g. alternative site selection and strategic planning)

 Important for sustainable development
In HK, EIA is required by Law
•
The Law: Environmental Impact
Assessment Ordinance (EIAO)
•
Designated developmental
projects listed in Schedule 2 and
3 of the EIAO should set up an
EIA in order to be granted
permission to do the project
How does EIA work in Hong Kong?
Comments from
Public &
The Advisory
Council on the
Environment (ACE)
Project
Profile
EPD
Comments from
Public & ACE
EIA
Report
EIA Study
Brief
EPD
EIA
Report
Approved
We are
involved!!
EPD
Environmental
Permit
Permission
No Adverse
Impact
Ecological knowledge is used in
advising society’s decision-making
How can the public find out
what developments are
planned?
• Media
• EPD website
http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/english/register/index.html
It’s our right and responsibility to
contribute comments about future
developments in Hong Kong
Is EIA always reliable?
Extract from the EIA Report (executive summary):
Relative to impacts upon fish culture enterprises, the Ma Wan
Fish Culture Zone (FCZ) will probably not be affected by any rise
in suspended solids, reductions in dissolved oxygen
concentration or raised nutrient levels caused by either
construction or operation of the theme park. Projected
hydrodynamic changes will not affect the FCZ water quality, since
water current speeds will be little affected. Waste water
discharges will comply with Water Pollution Control Ordinance
standards. Ways to reduce possible effects from the Penney's
Bay reclamation have been recommended. These measures,
together with monitoring will protect the Ma Wan FCZ.
Homework:
• Refer to the Ma Wan case
• Prepare a group report!
• Topic: Is EIA always reliable?
• You should discuss possible limitations of the EIA to
predict environmental impact arising from the
development.
Activity 4:
Discuss with your colleagues and
prepare well for the City Forum !!!
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Is Disneyland’s
construction the
start of a journey to
a magic kingdom?
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Summary
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Reflections
How do they interrelate?
– Science
– Technology
– Society
– Environment
You can use the
issue of the
theme park and
dioxin to
illustrate
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Science
Technology
(eg. predicting the
impact, the study of
dioxin)
(eg. computer modeling in EIA,
machines used to remove
dioxin)
Society
(eg. economic benefit of
the theme park, health
problems due to dioxin)
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Environment
(eg. prevent pollution caused by
the building of the theme park
and the leakage of dioxin)
Science is affected by
society
Scientific investigations are affected
by political, commercial and
social pressures.
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Society is affected by
science
The public is influenced by
scientific investigations.
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Commitment from
to the environment.
Our society relies on balanced
ecosystems for survival.
We have responsibility for the
present and future generations.
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Acknowledgements
Chao Yeuk Lan, Crystal
Chow Chi-yui, Shirley
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