displays at Hong Kong Disneyland
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Following is a question by the Hon David Li and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, at the Legislative Council meeting today (June 15):
Question:
From April 29 to May 7 this year, the Hong Kong Disneyland held in-situ trials of the nightly fireworks display planned for the theme park once it opens. During the trials, it was observed that the fireworks rose to a lower maximum height than that at the initial test held in January this year. As such, the resultant smoke tended to hover at a low level and, due to the prevailing wind conditions, drift inward towards the former Penny's Bay. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of :
(a) the average wind speed and direction measured at the Hong Kong Disneyland site on each night during the trial period;
(b) the locations and types of all instruments used by the contractors of Hong Kong Disneyland and by the authorities to measure the impact of the noise, particles and chemical substances of the fireworks on each night during the trial period;
(c) the specific chemicals substances measured by the above instruments, the rationale for the choice of chemicals to be recorded by the contractors and Government for reporting purposes, and the sensitivities of these instruments in respect of each of these chemicals; and
(d) the maximum instantaneous reading for each of the specified measurements recorded by each of the above instruments on each night during the trial period, broken down by location?
Reply,
Madam President,
The firework display trial is a requirement stipulated in the Environmental Permit issued to Hongkong International Theme Parks Limited (HKITP) under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), for the construction and operation of the Hong Kong Disneyland at Penny's Bay, Lantau. According to the Environmental Permit issued under the EIAO, the details of which have been made public on the EPD's website since 2000 (http://www.epd.gov.hk/eia/register/permit/latest/fep0292000.htm), the HKITP is required to carry out trial fireworks displays and associated air quality and noise monitoring. The details of the trial and monitoring programme should be submitted to the Director of Environmental Protection for agreement at least one month prior to the trial fireworks displays. The results of the trial fireworks displays should be submitted to the Director for agreement prior to the operation of the Project. Also, the results of the trial tests and associated air quality data should be provided to the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) for consultation, as directed by the Director of Environmental Protection, and made available to the public through the project's web site and the web site of EIA Ordinance.
(a) According to the trial and monitoring programme submitted by HKITP in April 2005, HKITP would record the weather data during the trial tests, including wind speed and direction. We have maintained close liaison with HKITP on their initial test results. We are awaiting the final submission around end of June from HKITP of their trial test results.
(b) According to the Environmental Permit issued under the EIAO, HKITP would carry out the air quality and noise monitoring during the trial. According to the proposal of HKITP, the air quality monitoring would be conducted using high volume and polyurethane foam samplers, tapered element oscillating microbalance ambient particulate monitor, canister and absorbent tube samplers.
The instruments used for noise monitoring are sound level meters specified under the Technical Memorandum of the Noise Control Ordinance.
The air quality monitoring was conducted at the following locations:
(i) rooftop of Peng Lai Court on Peng Chau;
(ii) rooftop of Management Office of Crestmont Villa at Discovery Bay;
(iii) Hollywood Hotel within Theme Park;
(iv) building #304 (Buzz Lightyear) within the Theme Park; and
(v) building #609 (Central Maintenance Facility) within the Theme Park.
Regarding noise monitoring, according to the HKITP's proposal, the noise levels would be recorded at the following locations:
(i) Tai Lei on Peng Chau; and
(ii) Rooftop of Cherish Court at Discovery Bay.
EPD, as the statutory authority under the EIAO, has closely observed the trial test and monitoring process conducted by HKITP, and would carefully vet the final submission of the trial test results. The initial monitoring results from HKITP show that the environmental requirements can be met.
(c) According to HKITP's proposal, the following chemicals/metals would be measured:
(i) Total Volatile Organic Compound;
(ii) Volatile Organic Compound (speciated);
(iii) Repairable Suspended Particulates;
(iv) Metals (Aluminium, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, particulate Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Potassium, Strontium, Titanium and Zinc);
(v) Sulphate;
(vi) Dioxins; and
(vii) Hydrogen Sulphide.
The choice of chemicals monitored was based on the parameters used in the Theme Park EIA report having regard to their potential air quality implications.
According to the trial firework display proposal put forward by HKITP, sampling instruments and procedures would follow the standards of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(d) In accordance with the internationally recognised practice, the firework noise criterion adopted in the Theme Park EIA report, which was presented to the public from March to April 2000 and endorsed by the ACE in April 2000, is based on 15-minute Equivalent Continuous Noise Level (i.e. Leq (15 min)) instead of instantaneous maximum noise level. The initial monitoring results from HKITP show that the noise criterion can be met. The monitoring data recorded by other instruments mentioned in (b) above are generally within the prescribed limits and the details will be available in the final submission. We are maintaining close liaison with HKITP and awaiting their final submission around end of June.
Ends/Wednesday, June 15, 2005
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