80 hectares of wetlands destroyed after North Metro plan bared - green groups

About 80 hectares of wetlands have been destroyed after the Northern Metropolis development plan was announced in 2021, two green groups say, as they urge authorities to implement a wetland conservation park.

The Conservancy Association and Greenpeace found in their study that at least 78.7 hectares of wetland have been damaged, which is equivalent to four Victoria Parks.

Among them, the vandalization of a fishpond near Tun Yu Road in San Tin, Yuen Long, started in May last year, when the administration announced plans to build the San Tin Technopole, which is part of the Northern Metropolis development plan.

"The size of the protecting facing of the pond was doubled, and was also filled with asphalt. There are also construction vehicles and construction materials being dumped around the fishpond," the green groups said.

The research team said it has witnessed seven dump trucks driving into the wetland conservation areas and suspected them of illegally disposing of construction waste. One of the trucks allegedly had Wing Tai Properties' logo.

Kristy Chow Oi-chuen, the association's campaign manager, said the illegal dumping activity took place on a plot which the administration plans to transform into a wetland park.

"However, before the government could begin any work, we are seeing the area has become a Northern Metropolis rubbish paradise before it could be turned into a Northern Metropolis wetland conservation park," Chow said.

The steady destruction of the Hoo Hok Wai wetland has more than doubled from nearly 17.6 hectares over two years ago to the current 36.9 hectares.

Most of the unlawful activities involve large-scale grading and excavation, while some parts of the area have been converted into shrimp farms, they added.

"The Planning Department has actually tried to enforce the law by issuing enforcement notices, which is used to tell law offenders to stop committing crimes," said Greenpeace senior campaigner Chan Hall-sion.

"But astonishingly, the government did not issue a reinstatement notice ... I think the government is too lenient," she added.

The green groups called on the administration to come up with a conservation strategy so that the development of the San Tin Technopole would not affect the wetland.

Wing Tai Properties said it has contacted its contractors to look into the situation, while adding that it will solemnly follow up if illegal dumping is discovered.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com