Policy Comments & Advocacy

1. Green Power appealed for Housing Department’s actions to conserve Tung Chung River with the letter dated 3 July, 2023 regarding the public housing development in Area 42 and 46 in Tung Chung West New Town Extension. Tung Chung River (TCR), as “the last large-scale natural river in Hong Kong”, is an important biodiversity hotspot which harbours various species of conservation concern, as well as an invaluable natural asset of our city.

2. We opine that the pollution load of these two densely populated housing sites will jeopardize the unique and valueable ecological value of Tung Chung River and the water quality of Tung Chung River Park which will provide water-friendly activities for visitors. Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) cannot solve such pollution problems if the runoff of these two sites is not properly directed, or the pollution loading and/or volume of runoff exceeds the capacity of SUDS.

3. We urge Housing Department to avoid unnecessary disturbance and pollution to Tung Chung River and future Tung Chung River Park through adequate building, site landscape and drainage design, preliminarily as follows:

(i) No public access should be connected to Tung Chung River Park to avoid uncontrolled human disturbance and pollution (e.g. clothes washing in the river), as it is a flood prevention facility and ecologically sensitive site.

(ii) In this regard, proper fencing or escalated level in housing site (similar to Yat Tung Estate ground level relative to Ma Wan Chung) should be in place to deter trespassing from the housing sites to River Park or Tung Chung River course.

(iii) The runoff of wet markets and refuse collection points, within the buildings and in their periphery, is heavily polluted, loaded with refuse and foul smelling that should be completely collected to sewage treatment plants and should not flow to River Park or Tung Chung River.

(iv) Vehicular parking area should locate in sheltered balconies that all surface runoff, with minimal rainwater, should be completely collected to sewage treatment plants that will not contaminate the surface runoff on ground level with fuel, lubricating oil and wastewater generated by car-washing.

(v) The surface runoff should not be directly discharged to Tung Chung River on the ground surface and through stormwater drains. The ground level of the sites should be topographically inclined away from river course of Tung Chung River that the surface runoff will not flow into Tung Chung River directly by gravity.

4. I would be grateful that Housing Department can provide the updated drainage design of these two housing sites, i.e. Area 42 and 46. We are highly concerned about

(i) whether the above-mentioned measures have been adopted in the detailed design.

(ii) the predicted volume of effluents of these two sites to the SUDS and sewage treatment plants.

(iii) the detailed stormwater and sewage drainage networks of these two housing sites.

5. Also, we pointed out that two housing sites are highly prone to the large and rapid discharge of surface runoff conveyed by Tung Chung Road from the steep hill slopes in Tung Chung Valley during torrential rainstorms. Therefore, facilities and properties vulnerable to flooding such as car parks or shops should not locate on the ground level.

6. Proper building design to promote natural ventilation in the orographically setting of Tung Chung Valley should be adapted to lower the energy consumption for air-conditioning of two housing sites that maintains the living quality of residents in a more sustainable manner.

7. I think the detail design of housing development in Area 42 and 46 is about to be finalised. Sustainable building design is the most efficient way to reduce carbon footprint, avoid unnecessary threat to local biodiversity and safeguard life and properties against extreme weather events under climate change. We are grateful for the update of these designs as soon as possible.

Thank you very much for your attention. We look forward to your update and a briefing session in person is appreciated.