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Following is a question by the Hon Daniel Lam and a reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, in the Legislative Council meeting today (November 22) :
Question:
Under the new nature conservation policy announced in 2004, the Government has launched two pilot schemes, namely management agreements (MA) and public-private partnership (PPP). The entire sum of $5 million earmarked for the pilot scheme on MA has so far been allocated to provide funding for three projects. As for the pilot scheme on PPP, while six applications have been received, none of the applications has been approved so far. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) given that the organizations which have received funding to implement the above three projects need to bear the conservation costs two years after the commencement of the projects, whether the authorities have assessed in different phases the progress and effectiveness of the measures adopted by these organizations to raise funds for the projects; if so, of the assessment criteria and the assessment results in different phases; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) of the reasons why none of the applications submitted under the pilot scheme on PPP has been approved so far, as well as the current progress in processing the six applications; and
(c) whether it has considered setting up a nature conservation fund for Hong Kong, so as to solve the financial problems relating to the implementation of the new nature conservation policy and sustain its implementation; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) The Pilot Scheme for Management Agreements (MA) under the New Nature Conservation Policy was launched in end 2005. The Environment and Conservation Fund Committee approved an allocation of $4.62 million to non-governmental organizations (NGO) for the implementation of three pilot MA projects at Fung Yuen and Long Valley for two years. The progress has been satisfactory since the implementation of the Pilot Scheme a year ago. Three NGOs have signed management agreements with landowners to actively conserve about 900,000 square feet of land. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has been closely monitoring the implementation of the Pilot MA projects. Each NGO is required to submit a progress report with information on the progress and financial position of the project once every three months. AFCD representatives also attend meetings of the advisory and management committees of the projects and conduct site visits to monitor the progress. We will review the effectiveness, operation and sources of funding of the Pilot MA projects in the second quarter of 2007 and decide on the way forward.
(b) We received six applications under the Pilot Scheme for Public-private Partnership (PPP), which involve land located at Sha Lo Tung, Tai Ho, Wu Kau Tang, Mui Tsz Lam and Mau Ping, Yung Shue O, and Tin Fook Wai. The Government has set up an Inter-departmental Task Force, comprising representatives from departments responsible for conservation, planning, environmental and works, to examine the applications. Having regard to a number of factors including site constraints, transport arrangements, ecological conditions, land use compatibility, infrastructure capacity, financial viability of the management plan, monitoring arrangements, etc, the Task Force will consider the proposals on a case-by-case basis. Development proposals involve non in-situ land exchange would only be considered with full justifications. Owing to the complexity and variables involved in the Pilot PPP Scheme, the time required for vetting the PPP proposals is longer than expected.
(c) Establishment of a nature conservation trust can facilitate pooling of funds from all sectors of the community for protection and conservation of the natural heritage of Hong Kong. It will provide an alternative source of funding to sustain nature conservation efforts. Some applications received under the PPP also propose the establishment of site-specific trust, in order to finance the long-term conservation of the concerned site. We are examining the feasibility of the suggestion, in particular the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the trust. We will make reference to the experience of the PPP Pilot Scheme and explore the possibility of establishing a nature conservation trust in Hong Kong.
Ends/Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:34
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