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Hong Kong College of Technology(Leeds Metropolitan University)

Faculty of Arts, Environment & TechnologyBSc(Hons) Civil Engineering

Major Project on

Environmental Issues for

Kai Tak Development

Prepared by Chan Tai Chai, Charles

Student Number: 77116925(Group 5)

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Abstract

This feasibility study report is focused upon the environmental impacts of Kai Tak Development while it was being vacant for development after July 1998. It mainly focuses on environmental factors which may affect the development of Kai Tak in the coming future. The findings on environmental impact are mainly based on the air quality, noise impact, water quality impact, waste management, land contamination, hazard to life, culture heritage, landscaping impact, ecology, fisheries and sewage treatment. Some of the recommendation on mitigation of the problems are also discussed and given in the content.

Acknowledgment

I am heartily thankful to my group supervisor Wong Hon Wang, Phil who provides guidance and support in helping me to generate this report for submission and enables me to develop the concept and understanding of writing a report. Besides, I would like to offer my regards and blessings to all of those group colleagues who support me and comment this report during the preparation of the draft report. Lastly, I would like to show my regards to my lecturer Dr. David Rodgers who provides lots of guidance to me to know how to draft and complete a former report.

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Feasibility Study ReportOn Environmental Issues

For The Development of Kai Tak

Kai Tak Development Executive Summary

OnEnvironment

Table of Contents

(i) Cover Page……………………………………………………………………………………….1(ii) Abstract…………………………………………………………………………..........................2(iii) Acknowledgment………………………………………………………………………………...2

Chapter 11.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Chapter 22.0 Background…………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Chapter 33.0 Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………………5

3.1 The Possible Major Proposal for the Development of Kai Tak………………………………53.2 The Proposed Land Use in the Kai Tak Development……….…………………. …………...53.3 The Possible Impacts on Environment and their Feasible Mitigation Measures…………..…5

3.3.1-Air Quality………………………………………………………………………….63.3.2-Noise Impact………………………………………………………………………..73.3.3-Water Quality……………………………………………………………………….73.3.4-Land Contamination and Waste…………………………………………………….73.3.5-Hazard to Life (Risk)……………………………………………………………….83.3.6-Cultural Heritage……………………………………………………………………83.3.7-Landscape and Visual Impact……………………………………………………….83.3.8-Ecology……………………………………………………………………………...93.3.9-Fisheries……………………………………………………………………………..93.3.10-Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Implications……………………………………9

Chapter 44.0 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………………………9

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Hong Kong College of Technology(Leeds Metropolitan University)

Faculty of Arts, Environment & TechnologyBSc(Hons) Civil Engineering

Major Project on Environmental Issues for Kai Tak Development

STUDENT NAME: Mr. Chan Tai Chai, Charles (Group 5)STUDENT ID: 77116925

COURSE: Major Project – Stage 1 (Individual) FINAL SUBMISSION: 11 November 2011

PROPOSED TITLE: The Feasibility Study for the Kai Tak Development on Environmental Issue

AIM OF THE DISSERTATION:

Aim

To assess the possible impacts affecting to the development of Kai Tak region

Objectives1. To review the replacement of Kai Tak Airport2. To outline the possible development and change of Kai Tak3. To outline the possible major proposal for the Kai Tak Development4. To evaluate the possible impacts on the environmental issues of Kai Tak development5. To state the situation and provide mitigation measures on the environmental issues for Kai Tak

development6. To discuss and provide conclusions and recommendations based on the proposals and the

environmental issues

SYNOPSIS AND PLAN OF WORK:

1.0 Introduction :-

The Kai Tak Development is a huge and highly complex development project in the world as it includes a total area of over 320 hectares covering the ex-airport site with adjoining to the several districts such as To Kwa Wan, Ma Tau Kok, Kowloon City, San Po Kong, Kowloon Bay, Ngau Tau Kok, Kwun Tong and Cha Kwo Ling. After several thorough planning by the government and private sectors and participation of public consultation, the temporary scheme of Kai Tak Development with a mix of community, public housings, business, tourism and infrastructure usage was finally fixed and had been implemented accordingly in 2009. This development can offer a chance to bring the harbour to the people and provide higher quality of life for about 86,000 residents and provide employment of 84,000, as well as to revitalise all of the surrounding areas such as mentioned above, especially for those in Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin and Kwu Tong.

2.0 Background:-

Owing to the capacity of the Kai Tak airport was too small and could not meet the future demand in Hong Kong, which needed to be proposed to develop a new airport at Chek Lap Kok of which was built within the period of 1995~1998. Thus, the new airport was relocated to Chek Lap Kok in July 1998 to cope with the new demand of Hong Kong future’s need. The feasibility study of the Kai Tak was therefore

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commenced after the relocation of the new airport. It was revised in 2001 based on the public concern over the habour reclamation and the Court of Final Appeal was ruling in January 2004 that no further reclamation was allowed based on the “overriding public needs” (Chris Sloan, (2007)). Hence, the Kai Tak development’s planning review was intended to make the development of Kai Tak with “zero reclamation”. The essential infrastructure was mainly implemented by CEDD and the site planning was mainly implemented by the Planning Department while the individual site development will be implemented by the third parties. The detailed assessment under the engineering study such as the issues of structural, highway / transport, drainage, environmental, geotechnical and health & safety had been found feasible and acceptable in term of planning engineering, traffic, marine, implementation, sustainability and environment aspects.

3.0 The Methodology:-

3.1 The Possible Major Proposal for the Development of Kai Tak The possible major proposals for construction and development are mainly divided as Kai Tak City Centre, Sport Hub, Metro Park and Tourism & Leisure Hub and it can be further sub-divided into six small areas as the (Figure.1) shown such as Kai Tak City Centre, Sport Hub, Metro Hub, Runway Precinct, Tourism and Leisure Hub, and South Apron Conner.

Figure.1 The six sub-divided areas for future Kai Tak development

3.2 The Proposed Land Use in the Kai Tak Develpment

The proposed possible land use for Kai Tak Development is totally 328 hectares and it can be used to develop the residential area(37.2ha), commercial area(18.2ha), multi-purpose stadium complex(23.2), cruise terminal(7.6ha), tourism node(6.1ha), metro park & open space system(109ha) and the government facilities(37.5ha) such as infrastructure, drainage system, sewerage system, water supply system and utilities layout, etc. For transportation, the Kai Tak region will be constructed the Central Kowloon Route, Road T2, public transport network, highway infrastructure, trunk road, district distributor, local road, pedestrian network, cyclist network, connection to hinterland and construction of environmental transport

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facilities. The mass transit railway of Shatin to Central Route will also be in construction in the decade of 2010.

Figure.2 The Proposed Land Use in the Kai Tak Region

3.3 The Possible Impacts on Evironment and their Feasible Mitigation Measures

The possible environmental impacts and their feasible mitigation measures are as follows:-3.3.1-Air Quality:3.3.2-Noise Impact:3.3.3-Water Quality:3.3.4-Land Contamination and Waste3.3.5-Hazard to Life (Risk):3.3.6-Cultural Heritage:3.3.7-Landscape and Visual Impact:3.3.8-Ecology:3.3.9-Fisheries:3.3.10-Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Implications:

3.3.1-Air Quality:

The odour may arise from the existing Kai Tak sources such as the Kai Tak Nullah, the Kai Tak Approach Channel and the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter. The possible odour may arise during the dredging work at the Kai Tak Approach Channel and the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter in the construction of cruise terminal. The air quality impact, during the construction phase, may arise from construction activities such as site formation works, construction traffic, wind erosion of open site and the stockpiling areas, etc. During the operation phase, the major sources of air pollution are traffic emission, emission from the ventilation shafts of the tunnels and railway station, exhausted air from the cruise vessels and the odour from the two above-mentioned locations adjacent to the runway.

3.3.1.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: To localize the dredging works within the Kai Tak Approach Channel and the Kwun Tong Typhoon

Shelter. To use the in-situ bioremediation sediment treatment by injecting liquid calcium nitrate solution into

the Kai Tak Approach Channel and the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter. To create a 600m opening at Kai Tak runway to improve water circulation so as to improve the water

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quality. To intercept the polluted discharge which may arise odour at the Kai Tak Nullah before water

discharging to the Victoria Harbour To set up the air quality monitoring stations for site monitoring. To avoid stagnant water ponding To reduce sedimentation To prevent potential future generation of odour. 3.3.2-Noise Impact:

The noise impact during the construction phase may result from various phase of construction activities, neighbouring concurrent construction works, the use of powered mechanical equipments, construction plants, traffic along the access roads, site blasting, the dredging and marine works, the percussive piling works for the foundation, etc. During the operational period, the noise mainly comes from traffic and cruise vessels.

3.3.2.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: To set up the noise monitoring stations for monitoring noise pollution. To implement the Noise Control Ordinance accordingly. To use low noise surfacing material for decking of roads. To use the structural fins at the public housing blocks To construct the noise barriers for the residential buildings and commercial offices.

3.3.3-Water Quality:

The dredging and marine works for construction of proposed cruise terminal at Kai Tak may seriously affect the water quality. The predicted bottom dissolved oxygen may be seriously affected if no mitigation measures are implemented at the locations of the Kai Tak Approach Channel and the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter. Even if the mitigation measures had been implemented, the exceedance of unionized ammonia, inorganic nitrate and dissolved oxygen in the mentioned locations are still predicted to be present in 2013 (Maunsell, Aecom, (2006)) and the majority of the dredged sediment will be contaminated and a suitable marine disposal should be adopted during the works in progress. In generally speaking, the water quality impact may mainly come from the construction activities and its discharging, dredging and marine works disturbing the sea bed sediments, drainage diversion works and discharges and storm water / sewerage works.

3.3.3.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: To set up the water monitoring stations for monitoring water pollution. To implement the Water Pollution Control Ordinance to control the water quality. To provide a 600m gap at the northern part of Kai Tak airport runway to improve the water

circulation and the flushing effect in the two mentioned locations as stated above. To carry out some activities of the mitigation measures as stated in the air quality part. (please refer

to air quality such as injecting calcium nitrate)

3.3.4-Land Contamination and Waste:

The location of land contamination was identified in the Northern Part of Apron Area. It was observed to be no adverse residual environment impact to the surrounding areas after a suitable implementation of appropriate mitigation measures and remedial actions are adopted recently. The wastes are mainly generated by construction works such as site waste, workforce waste, chemical waste, construction & demolition material and dredged sediments. The presence of contaminated sediments may be required dredging and proper disposal to be handled. The project will generate about 5.95 million m3 of construction and demolition material(C&DM) of which about 2.73 million m3 will be re-used and the rest will be re-used at other projects or disposed to the public sand land fills. About 4.57 million m3 of dredged sediment will be generated by dredging and needed to be specially treated prior to disposal.(Derek Sun,

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(2006))

3.3.4.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: To implement the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Hazardous Chemical Control Ordinance. To carry out the bio-piling and solidification / stabilization for those contaminated areas. To monitor the dredging and marine works periodically. To specially monitor the waste disposal treatment especially for the construction and demolition

materials(C&DM).

3.3.5-Hazard to Life (Risk):

The locations of mentioned below are identified as hazardous to life that they may present an environmental constraint and risk to the development of Kai Tak such as :-1. Mau Tau Kok Gas Works North Plants 2. Kwun Tong Dangerous Goods Vehicular Ferry Pier3. Kerry Dangerous Goods Godown 4. Petrol cum Liquefied Petroleum Gas Filling Station5. The Chlorine Trans-shipment Dock at Kowloon BayThe existing facilities including the naphtha jetty near Ma Tau Kok public pier, Hong Kong China Gas Company Ltd’s twin 400mm diameter gas submarine pipeline at Kowloon Bay and the Chlorine trans-shipment dock in the South Apron Area would likely pose constraints to the development of Kai Tak and hence they have to be identified and diverted and re-provisioned timely.

3.3.5.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: To implement the Waste Disposal Ordinance and the Hazardous Chemical Control Ordinance strictly

in order to ensure safe handling of the hazardous-to-life materials. To divert and re-provisioned the facilities and utilities carefully and timely. 3.3.6-Cultural Heritage:

The marine archaeological investigation of environmental impact assessment did not find out any valuably archaeological resources but it may be considered to be found out and buried deeply within the sub-sea bed sediments. The possible high valuably significant heritage is Song Wong Toi Inscription Rock and the rest of areas are considered to be lower significant heritage except the Fishtail Rock, Hong Kong Far East Flying School(HK Aviation Club), remnant of the ex-Kai Tak Airport and Longjin Bridge Archaeological Site should be considered to be protected and preserved while developing of the Kai Tak site.

3.3.6.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: The government should act as vital agent to protect mentioned cultural heritages. The public citizens should be educated to preserve these valuable heritages.

3.3.7-Landscape and Visual Impact:

Due to the large scale of development in Kai Tak, the landscaping and visual impact will be seriously affected. But with a careful design of the layout plan, the landscaping impact may be reduced. As about 2,250 existing trees will be affected thereafter by the development of Kai Tak of which about 1,363 numbers of trees will be planted into the new open areas and about 1,000 numbers of trees will be planted along the new distributor roads(Planning Department, (2006)). For the whole development, the new urban landscaping view will be changed from a flat open area to a high-rise contemporary development area with sport and entertainment nodes. There will unavoidably be moderate to affect the residential views of residents at the high-rise buildings in To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City, Kowloon Bay and Kwun Tong.

3.3.7.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: To carefully design the new layout of plans to create sub-district, new open space framework, visual

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connection and breezeways. To preserve the view of Victoria Habour, the asset of cultural heritage, aesthetic design of roads, and

streetscapes. To plant more tree trees to vitalize the development.

3.3.8-Ecology:

The area of development for ecological assessment includes developed area, wasteland, plantation / grassland mosaic, watercourse and artificial coastline. The identified habitats are considered of very low to low in ecological values. No area of conservation importance is located and identified within the developing area. Permanent loss of wasteland is 202.7 hectares, loss of plantation / grassland mosaic is 15.8 hectares and 0.7km of artificial coastline in the former airport will be lost in final(Maunsell, Aecom, (2006)). Hence, the impact of the habitat loss under the project is considered as very minor.

3.3.8.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: Due to the ecological impact is minor, no mitigation measure should be implemented.

3.3.9-Fisheries:

The literature review is assessed that Kowloon Bay, eastern Victoria Habour and the Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter are considered to be moderate to high fisheries values while To Kwa Wan Typhoon Shelter and Kai Tak Approach Channel are considered to be relatively low value. No fish culture zones, important spawning and nursery grounds are identified in the vicinity of the areas. A temporary loss of 74.4 hectares of fishing area due to dredging and marine works may be affected under the project but the loss of fishing area within the dredging area is considered to be minor.

3.3.9.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: Due to significant adverse impact on the fisheries resources is minor, no mitigation measure should

be implemented.

3.3.10-Sewerage and Sewage Treatment Implications:

The sewage generated from the northern portion of Kai Tak will be conveyed to the To Kwa Wan Preliminary Treatment Works whereas the sewage generated from the southern potion of Kai Tak will be conveyed to Kwun Tong Preliminary Treatment Works. And the sewage will finally be collected to Stonecutters Island Sewage Treatment Works for a final treatment (Maunsell, Aecom, (2006)),. Hence, the existing sewerage facilities can handle the additional flow from the development of Kai Tak in general.

3.3.10.1-The Possible Mitigation Measures: Due to no significant adverse impact on the sewerage impact is identified, no mitigation measure

and the upgrading works should be implemented on the existing sewerage system.

4.0 Conclusions

For the construction of cruise terminal, the government intends to use the natural ventilation and daylight to demonstrate an energy conservation design and the use of on-shore power supply for cruise terminal and this may create a very environmentally-friendly power use to the environment.

For the construction of roads, the government intends to use those low noise materials for decking the roads and will plan to plant more trees along the roads and set up more noise barriers for noise reduction and this may create a greening effect and good for the environment for the development of Kai Tak.

For the existing odour problem arising at the Kai Tak Approach Channel and Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter, the government intends to use some of the environmentally friendly chemicals like calcium nitrate for damping effect of the air pollution and water pollution and this may pose a very good living

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environment.

To promote adoption of energy-efficient air conditioning system, the government intends and plans to implement a district cooling system at the Kai Tak Development. It will provide chilled water to the non-domestic development for air conditioning. This is a very environmentally energy efficient system which may consumes 35% less electricity compared with the traditional one(Information Service Department, (2010)). It will be developed for operation into three phases to suit the development schedule. The first phase is expected to be completed by the end of 2012 for operation and the rest will be completed after 2013(Planning Department,(2006)). This may be the best to benefit the environment of Hong Kong in the future.

Therefore, in overall, the development of Kai Tak is now adopting a very environmentally friendly use method for construction and development and it will benefit to the Hong Kong in the future in term of long term consideration. In the long run, the Kai Tak airport site will provide as a central business district with grade A offices in it and the new office node will be shifted to the former Kai Tak airport site in the future.

Figure.3 The Proposed Central Business Districts for Grade A Offices

REFERENCES:

Maunsell, Aecom, (2006), Environment Impact Assessment Executive Summary, pp 1-20

CEDD, (2006), Kai Tak Development Project Profile, (Jul), pp.1-18,

CEDD, (2006), Dredging Works for Proposed Cruise Terminal at Kai Tak, (Nov), pp.1-21

CEDD, (2006), Decommissioning of the former Kai Tak Airport other than the North Apron, (Nov), pp.1-16

Chris Sloan, (2007), Kai Tak Planning Review, Vol.1 (Nov), pp.1-28

Maunsell, (2007), Technical Report – Preliminary Sustainability Assessment, Stage 1 Planning Review, Vol.4 (Feb), pp.1-50

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Planning Department, (2006), Revised Preliminary Outline Development Plan, Vol.1 (Oct), pp.1-33

Derek Sun, (2006), Final Technical Report Online Concept Plans, Vol.1, Pt 2,(Nov), pp.1-289

Information Service Department, (2010), Hong Kong 2010, Vol.1, (Jan), pp.277-302.