The “Sustainable Lantau Blueprint” with the principle of “Development in the North, Conservation for the South” was released in June 2017. Over the years, The Conservancy Association (CA) and other local green groups have been keeping an eye on Lantau conservation. We have revealed different incidents of environmental vandalism in several ecologically sensitive areas in South Lantau. Even though the “Blueprint” has been launched for almost three years, the government still failed to halt environmental vandalism while the number of incidents were increased.
CA conducted a site visit together with other green groups to South Lantau in March. Sites with conservation importance were visited including Pui O, Shui Hau and Tong Fuk, where dumping, tree felling and site formation in these areas were spotted. The situation in Pui O wetland was the most severe. Having a wide variety of habitats, Pui O is home to diverse wildlife, some of which are rare species or species with conservation concern. The ecological value of Pui O is undoubtedly high. Although it has been designated as “Coastal Protection Area”, the Planning Department is unable to take enforcement actions due to loopholes in the existing law. As a result, construction wastes such as bricks, concrete and fences, have been scattered on different parts of the wetland and the concerned groups are helpless against these situations.
Part of the wetland, which is near Pui O Playground, has been fenced off and paved as a private garden in 2015. During our recent site visit, we found that a platform and two large tents have been set up right outside the fenced area. Another part of the wetland, which is near the tents and the official Pui O Campsite, has also been fenced off and piled with construction waste since 2017. A platform with container, which is suspected to be used as ancillary bathroom, was set up as well recently.
In the 2018 Policy Address, the government mentioned that “we will also review the legislation concerned and map out more effective means to control landfilling, dumping of wastes and associated development activities causing environmental damage to areas of high ecological values at Lantau”. In order to close the loophole and to effectively prevent environmental vandalism from spreading across ecologically sensitive areas in Lantau, the government has to speed up the progress of its “review”.
