The new "Policy Address" proposes to review urban planning, environmental impact assessment and other statutory requirements to streamline the development process.
The Environmental Advisory Committee discussed related issues today (11th). Many members were concerned that the streamlining of the EIA report process would be "compressing for the sake of compression, at the expense of the rigorous standards that have been used."
Some members also emphasized that the long ecological survey in the EIA report is due to the observation cycle.
The Secretary for the Environment, Huang Jinxing, responded that the streamlining of the development process is to "be smart and smart", and the goal of reviewing the EIA system is to be more efficient and increase effectiveness.
In addition, when asked whether the development of the northern metropolitan area and "Lantau Tomorrow" will significantly increase Hong Kong's carbon emissions, Huang believes that the new development zone can more easily integrate transportation and buildings to reduce carbon emissions. "This is a good opportunity."
The Secretary for the Environment, Huang Jinxing, responded that the streamlining of the development process is to "be smart and smart."
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Committee members worry about "compression for compression"
Huang Jinxing today gave a briefing to the Environmental Advisory Council on the policies of the Environment Bureau in the "Policy Address".
Many committee members are concerned about streamlining the development process, including the EIA report process.
Member Ma Yunqi believes that many years of implementation of the EIA system need to be improved, but the original intention is to protect the environment during the development process. ."
The chairman of the committee, Huang Yuanhui, also pointed out that there are many concerns in the society. "The use of compressed words is inevitably worrying. Compression for the sake of compression will sacrifice the rigorous standards." The vice chairman of the committee, Tan Fengyi, emphasized that the ecological investigation in the EIA report takes a long time. It is because you have to observe the cycle, "I don't want to think that it is blocking the rotation of the earth, but it is actually a tight one."
Some members worry that large-scale developments in the "Northern Metropolis" and "Lantau Tomorrow" will also generate a lot of carbon emissions during the construction and operation period.
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Xie Zhanhuan, deputy director of the Environment Bureau, responded that the goal of reviewing the EIA system is to "increase efficiency." He explained that the previous report production process took time, "10 to 24 months are only for producing reports, and the entire EIA system will take at least 3 years." He said that the current department It takes a lot of time to communicate and explain.
In addition, the review also hopes to increase its effectiveness. Taking ecological surveys as an example, the evaluation process is not clear, so we plan to add clear standards.
At the meeting, some members were worried that large-scale developments in the "Northern Metropolis" and "Lantau Tomorrow" would also generate a large amount of carbon emissions during the construction and operation period. Will the neutralization target be too optimistic?" Xie Zhanhuan responded that the relevant development zones will calculate the annual carbon emissions of Hong Kong, emphasizing that "it will definitely use low-carbon development methods with the Development Bureau."
▼Development of New Territories North in the 2021 Policy Address▼
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Huang Jinxing emphasized, "If you want to live, people's livelihood, and economy, you will not shake the goal of carbon neutrality."
He believes that Hong Kong's carbon emissions are mainly generated during the operation stage, and it is easier to integrate carbon reduction measures in transportation and buildings in new development areas than in old areas, which is "a good opportunity."
As for community participation, Huang pointed out that next month, a large-scale recycling of food waste housing estates will be implemented.
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