Hong Kong is facing unsustainable rates of land reclamation that are exceeding conservation efforts and leading to a loss of marine biodiversity. The rapid pace of reclamation threatens Hong Kong's sustainability and quality of life by degrading habitats and water quality. There is ongoing public debate around proposed expansion of the airport that would involve further reclamation and impact the habitat of endangered Chinese white dolphins. While an environmental assessment was conducted, many experts question whether the mitigation plans are sufficient to offset the damage.

1. The
Problem
Statement
Despite
having
an
agenda
to
mitigate
biodiversity
loss,
Hong
Kong’s
reclamation
projects
are
operating
at
an
unsustainable
rate. This
results
in
a
loss
of
species
biodiversity
and
abundance,
because
the
pace
of
reclamation
is
quickly
exceeding
the
pace
of
complementary
conservation
measures.
Overall, this
poses
a
serious
threat
to
Hong
Kong’s
sustainability
as
a
city
and
the
quality
of
life
it
can
provide
for
its
inhabitants.
2015
JOINT
SUMMER
COURSE
SOS
494/598
URBAN
SUSTAINABILITY
IN
HONG
KONG
-­‐‑ASU
Understanding
Reclamation
in
Hong
Kong
Reclamation
Rates
Exceed
Conservation
Rates
Threatening
Hong
Kong’s
Marine
Biodiversity
Pros
of
Reclamation Cons
of
Reclamation
• Creates
more
land
• Economic
development
• Degrades
local
water
quality
• Destroys
habitats
of
vulnerable
species
What
is
land
reclamation?
Land
reclamation
is
the
act
of
creating
new
land
from
the
ocean,
riverbeds,
or
lake
beds.
What
is
happening
in
Hong
Kong?
Hong
Kong
faces
the
challenge
of
trying
to
meet
the
demand
for
more
land
from
housing,
businesses
and
waste
management
without
compromising
their
protected
countryside.
This
has
led
to
a
reliance
on
land
reclamation,
which
has
caused
the
marine
ecosystem
to
suffer.
Currently,
25
areas
are
proposed
for
this
purpose.
Approval
for
reclamation
is
based
on
an
Environmental
Impact
Assessment
(EIA).
Decline
of
Hong
Kong’s
Marine
Ecosystem
Marine
ecosystem
has steadily
declined
since
the 1950s
• Dredging,
dumping, and
reclamation
activities
• Initial
poor planning
of
waste
infrastructure
contaminated
local
waters
• Modernization
and
mechanization
of
fishing
fleet
• Destructive
fishing
practices
Consequently,
the
marine
ecosystem has
transformed
into
a
highly
volatile
system
(loss
of
specialized
species,
increase
in
generalized
species)
• Loss
of
higher,
trophic-­‐level
fish
species
(human-­‐income
source)
• Loss
of
many
types
and
abundance
of
coral
(fish-­‐food
sources)
Overall,
marine
biodiversity,
abundance,
and
the
economic
livelihood
of
fisherman
are
affected.

2. Qualitative
Analysis
of
the
Current
State
Currently,
Hong
Kong
does
not
require
specific
conservation
measures
to
offset
the
damage
that
reclamation
of
marine
environments
can
cause.
When
marine
parks
are
created
to
offset
reclamation
projects,
they
do
not
necessarily
maintain
the
overall
integrity
of
the
habitat
that
was
affected
by
reclamation.
A
genuine
offset
requires
both
biological
integrity
(species
abundance
and
diversity)
and
equal
(or
greater)
size
of
the
area
be
maintained.
All
ecosystems
are
unique;
replacing
one
destroyed
ecosystem
by
protecting
another
poses
a
difficult
challenge.
Therefore,
a
comprehensive
conservation
policy
is
currently
needed in
order
to
alleviate
the
declining
ecological
value
of
Hong
Kong’s
seas.
The
expansion
of
the
approved
third
runway
project
at
HKG
is
a
current
source
of
public,
private
and
governmental
contention.
The
debate
is
dynamic;
here
is
a
glimpse:
“The
majority
of
Hong
Kongers favor
the
construction
of
the
third
runway.
The
business
community
has
always
been
a
great
supporter.
The
only
remaining
opponents
are
certain
environmental
groups.
…
I
hope
concern
about
the
dolphins
will
not
be
used
as
an
excuse
for
obstructing
the
future
economic
and
social
development
of
Hong
Kong.
1”
“It
is
not
a
small
piece
of
land
the
authorities
are
reclaiming,
and
the
location
of
the
proposed
third
runway
is
in
the
heart
of
three
Chinese
white
dolphin
hotspots…
Reclamation
will
also
cause
a
lot
of
solid
and
water
pollution
during
construction…
Suspended
solids
and
other
pollutants
released
during
the
construction
process
will
directly
affect
marine
animals
and
those
of
us
who
eat
fish.
2”
“Hong
Kong
does
not
need
a
third
runway.
What
Hong
Kong
needs
is
better
management
and
utilization
of
its
existing
two
runways.
2”
What
Is
the
Local
Opinion?
The
Chinese
white
dolphin
(CWD)
is
a
highly
protected,
endemic
species
that
is
specially
adapted
to
and
lives
in
the
Pearl
River
Delta
estuary
habitat.
For
decades,
land
reclamation
and
shipping
traffic
have
disrupted
the
CWD’s
habitat.
Annual
CWD
deaths
are
at
record
highs
and
population
numbers
are
at
record
lows.
Now
the
CWDs
face
another
threat
as
the
Hong
Kong
International
Airport
(HKG)
is
expanding
their
runway
to
include
a
third
option
in
a
prime
CWD
breeding
and
spawning
territory.
While
an
EIA
has
been
performed
and
a
marine
park
planned
as
a
mitigation
measure,
many
experts
question
the
legitimacy
of
the
overall
plan.
Public
opinion
has
been
mixed,
however
the
majority
of
public
comments
express
concern
over
the
encroachment
on
the
CWD’s
habitat.
There
are
two
significant
problems
with
the
planned
marine
park:
1)
The
area
being
reclaimed
is
prime
CWD
breeding
and
spawning
ground,
while
the
area
being
conserved
has
not
been
identified
as
a
breeding
and
spawning
ground
for
the
CWD.
2.
The
reclamation
project
is
expected
to
be
finished
by
2020
while
the
marine
park
is
not
expected
to
be
established
until
2023.
The
proposed
marine
park
mitigation
measure
is
inappropriate
and
inadequate.
Reclamation
in
progress.
Reclaimed
land
is
easier
to
build
on
due
to
its
flat
nature.
Chinese
white
dolphin
sightings
in
Hong
Kong.
Chinese
White
Dolphin
Case
Study:
Chinese
White
Dolphin

3. 2015
JOINT
SUMMER
COURSE
GE3203
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
OF
HONG
KONG
-­‐‑ CITYU
Our
Policy
Recommendation
Balancing
the
Consequences
of
Reclamation
Through
Conservation
Putting
the
Policy
In
Perspective
In
1993,
China
joined
the
International
Convention
on
Biodiversity,
as
part
of
1992
Rio
Earth
Summit.
In
2011,
this
commitment
was
extended
to
Hong
Kong.
Members
of
the
Convention
adopted
the
Strategic
Plan
for
Biodiversity
(SPB)
2011-­‐2020,
in
2010,
to
combat
biodiversity
loss
through
a
structured
framework.
Because
Hong
Kong
has
already
committed
to
these
goals,
our
proposed
policy
suggestions
have
been
adapted
to
fit
this
framework.
Based
on
our
analysis of
the
current
situation
in
Hong
Kong,
we
propose
the
following,
aligned
within
the
SPB
goals:
Increase
the
pace
and
quality
of
conservation
practices
in
order
to
balance
the
overall
health
of
marine
ecosystems
with
economic
growth
to
improve
quality
of
life
for
current
and
future
generations.
• Engage
with
marine
experts
to
revise
the
route
of
shipping
vessel
traffic
to
minimize
disturbance
to
marine
organisms.
• Increase
human
understanding
of
local
marine
ecosystems
through
promoting
eco-­‐tours
and
educational
centers
that
highlight
the
importance
of
marine
resources
and
conservation
efforts.
• Continue
to
provide
additional
alternative
livelihood
options
for
commercial
fishers.
Train
and
employ
previous
commercial
fishers
as
eco-­‐tour-­‐guides
and
educational
speakers
to
educate
public
on
marine
resources.
• Environmental
Impact
Assessments
should
be
reviewed
by
an
independent
third
party
that
focus
on
conservation
practices
• Establishment
of
placement
of
marine
parks
should
be
independently
evaluated
by
an
independent
third
party
that
focus
on
conservation
practices
• All
reclamation
damage
should
be
offset
with
conservation
practices.
Replacement
of
damaged
marine
ecosystems
from
land
reclamation
should
be
offset
with
marine
parks
that
maintain
both
biological
integrity
(species
abundance
and
diversity)
and
protection
of
equal
or
greater
size
of
the
area
that
was
lost.
Reduce
direct
pressure
on
biodiversity
and
promote
its
sustainable
use
Improve
status
of
biodiversity
by
safeguarding
ecosystems
species
and
genetic
diversity

4. Citations
Summary
Enhance
implementation
through
participatory
planning,
knowledge
management
and
capacity
building.
• Engage
more
participation
of
public
in
the
commenting
and
review
process
of
EIAs.
Extend
public
review
and
commenting
period
by
an
additional
three
months.
• Increase
transparency
of
the
EIA
review
process
by
making
all
public
comments
accessible.
Provide
online
access
for
the
public
to
review
all
comments.
Enhance
benefits
to
all
from
biodiversity
and
ecosystem
services
• Establish
marine
parks
as
protected
sanctuaries.
Ban
all
commercial
fishing
within
marine
parks
by
2020,
as
initially
promised
in
2008.
This
will
contribute
to
healthy
fish
populations
and
enable
recreational
fishing
to
continue
for
current
and
future
generations.
• Increase
amount
of
Hong
Kong’s
waters
that
are
protected
as
marine
parks
to
at
least
10%
of
total
waters
by
2020.
1. England, Vaudine. "Hong Kong Plan to Create 25 Islands Threatens Wildlife, Say Protesters." The Guardian. 27 May 2012. Web. 17 June 2015.
<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2014-­10/09/content_18709093.htm>
2. Banu, Nazreen. "Why Hong Kong's Third Runway Is Not Needed." South China Morning Post. 19 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 June 2015.
<http://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1768591/why-­hong-­kongs-­third-­runw ay-­not-­needed>
Cornish, Andy. “Marine Conservation and Hong Kong’s First Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.” June 2015. Powerpoint presentation.
England, Vaudine. "Hong Kong Plan to Create 25 Islands Threatens Wildlife, Say Protesters." The Guardian. 27 May 2012. Web. 17 June 2015.
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/27/hong-­kong-­islands-­threat-­wildlife>
Gibson, Robert.”Hong Kong’s History and Sustainability Challenges.” June 2015. Powerpoint presentation.
Hodgin, Nicola. "Is This the Final Nail in the Coffin?" WWF Hong Kong. WWF, 18 July 2015. Web. 16 June 2015.
<http://www.wwf.org.hk/en/news/featuredstories/?11800%2FIs-­this-­the-­final-­nail-­in-­the-­coffi>.
Lee, Samantha. "Hong Kong's Dolphins Sinking under 'develop First, Conserve Later' Approach." WWF Hong Kong -­. South China Morning Post, 24 Jan. 2015.
Web. 17 June 2015. <http://www.wwf.org.hk/en/news/featuredstories/?12780%2FChineseWhiteDolphin>.
Teh, Louise, et al. "A Survey of Alternative Livelihood Options for Hong Kong's Fishers." International journal of social economics 35.5/6 (2008): 380-­95.
Turrentine, Heather C. An Analysis of Hong Kong’s Marine Struggles and Approaches to Restore the Local Marine Ecosystem through Deploying Artificial Reefs.
2015. Print.
By:
Ralf
Chau,
Elija Flores,
Stellar
Hui,
Zoe
Stein,
&
Heather
Turrentine
Special
Thanks
To:
Dr.
Rob
Melnick,
Dr.
Han
Shi,
Jenny
Carter,
Dr.
Robert
Gibson,
Dr.
Andy
Cornish,
and
Henry
Cheung
Hong
Kong’s
current
state
of
development
is
unsustainable.
Their
pace
of
reclamation
is
exceeding
their
pace
of
complementary
mitigation
efforts.
Our
policy
recommendations
attempt
to
balance
economic
development
while
enhancing
the
current
marine
state.
Social
Standard
Living
Education
Community
Equal
Opportunity
Environmental
Use
of
Natural
Resources
Pollution
Prevention
Environmental
Management
Economic
Profit
Cost
Saving
Equal
Opportunity
Sustainability