The Environment Protection Department said Wednesday it has ordered Disney to undertake an additional monitoring program in August, following criticism over flaws in its fireworks trial in May.

Disneyland's plans to stage pyrotechnic shows each night in the skies above Penny's Bay have raised concerns among residents at Discovery Bay and Peng Chau.

In a report submitted to the Advisory Council on the Environment in 2000, Disney said fireworks would not cause any significant environmental impact as confirmed by a trial test it conducted in Orlando that year.

But the EPD asked the theme park to carry out tests on-site.

Disney held trial firework displays May 6 and 7 at the park's Penny's Bay location on Lantau, during which five sampling locations were set up to monitor air quality with respect to respirable suspended particulates, metals and other harmful chemicals, including dioxins and sulfates.

The locations included three areas within the theme park and two ``off-site'' areas on residential rooftops in neighboring Peng Chau and Discovery Bay, both 2.7 kilometers from the fireworks.

Although the Disney report insisted the firework trial result showed that it had satisfied ``all detection limits on all parameters,'' the ACE criticized it on July 11, saying the trial fireworks displays on Lantau were flawed as the data was based on only two days, when the ``winds were mild,'' and also that one of the instruments used to test suspended air particles failed on the trial day. In addition, data collected on noise pollution had been interfered with by ``extraneous noise.''

ACE member Mei Ng criticized the Disney data, saying it was ``very inconclusive,'' and said it should call off the displays altogether.

In a statement released Wednesday, the government said, ``Having considered the Advisory Council on the Environment's concerns and views, the Environmental Protection Department has required the Hong Kong international theme park to enhance the monitoring program, particularly with regard to the noise and respirable suspended particulates for firework displays.

``The monitoring will be conducted in early August with a view to submitting the results to the ACE for consultation in mid-August.''

Meanwhile, Acting Financial Secretary Stephen Ip, together with the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Frederick Ma and Acting Commissioner for Tourism Maisie Cheng, paid a visit to the Disneyland site and the joint command center at Penny's Bay Wednesday.

They were there to see for themselves the preparation work for the opening of the theme park.

They were briefed by Hong Kong Disneyland group managing director Don Robinson, who insisted that all necessary arrangements were being made to ensure a smooth opening September 12.

The group also inspected the Penny's Bay Police Post where a joint command center for the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland has been set up to monitor the crowds and traffic in the area.

chester.yung@singtaonewscorp.com