Hong Kong Disney site poses ecological threat, say experts

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Hong Kong Disney site poses ecological threat, say

experts

 

Friday, February 22, 2002

By Reuters

 

HONG KONG — Preparation for a site housing Hong Kong's

future Disney theme park could seriously threaten

ecological systems nearby, according to an independent

environmental study released on Thursday.

The findings appear to be the most alarming to date

about the US$1.8 billion project, which Hong Kong is

banking on to rejuvenate its mature tourism industry

but environmentalists have slammed as one of nature's

biggest nightmares.

 

The government-commissioned study revolves around the

former Cheoy Lee Shipyard, which was decommissioned in

2001 to make way for roads and other infrastructure

linking to Penny's Bay, the site of the future park.

 

The shipyard is located northeast of Penny's Bay, and

its dismantling would involve removing around 87,000

cubic meters of contaminated soil, cutting 42,100

cubic meters of soil and rock for slope stabilization,

transporting tainted soil to another site for

treatment, and a decontamination process that would

take up to three years, according to the study.

 

But the study by Maunsell Consultants Asia Ltd warned

that decommissioning works surrounding the 37-year-old

shipyard may " cause high level impacts on ecological

resources. "

 

" The greatest possible disturbance is to Rice-fish

habitats ... and restricted and protected plant

species, " it said. It recommended that threatened fish

and plant species be transplanted ahead of the

decommissioning exercise.

 

Failure to decommission the shipyard would pose

long-term risks to the health of workers and visitors

to the park, it said.

 

The warnings were no surprise to environmentalists,

who have blamed land reclamation and infrastructure

works connected to the park for massive water

pollution problems around Penny's Bay.

 

" I'm not surprised at all, " said environmentalist

Sannie Chan, who slammed the report as coming too

late. Areas close to the shipyard used to be breeding

grounds for lots of fish and corals, but they are now

all dead because of the reclamation.

 

Fishers who used to live off the seas around Penny's

Bay have suffered from dwindling catches in the past

year and are now forced to venture farther afield.

Many fish farmers around the bay have also been forced

to give up their trade.

 

The park is split 57:43 between the Hong Kong

government and Disney and is due to open by early

2006.

 

Copyright 2002, Reuters

 

 

 

 

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