Thanks for your support! During the public consultation of the EIA for the LNG terminal between 27 December 2006 and 25 January 2007, over 20,000supporters signed this petition letter and their comments were submitted to Environmental Protection Department, contributing to a record-breaking number of public submissions since the enactment of the EIA Ordinance since 1998 in Hong Kong.
Dear Director, Environmental Protection Department,
The recent proposal by China Light and Power to build a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receiving terminal at South Soko Island is a threat to the existence of the Chinese white dolphin in Hong Kong waters. The dolphins are supposed to be a protected species, yet the government has already allowed more than 1,700 hectares of their habitat to be lost to reclamation and other projects. The 38 km pipeline, and operation of the LNG terminal at South Soko would be yet another impingement on their territory.
The Soko Islands are one of the prime habitats for the Chinese white dolphin and are the only area where this species co-occurs with the Finless porpoise in Hong Kong. The ecological value of the area has already been recognized with the Country and Marine Park Board endorsing a proposal for a marine park there in 2002. However, designation of the park has yet to occur, and even within the existing marine park for dolphins commercial fishing still occurs. As the dolphins already suffer from a high level of human disturbance, and receive little effective protection, it is vital that they not be subjected to even more stress.
I now urge the Hong Kong SAR government to ensure the Chinese white dolphins survive forever in Hong Kong by taking the following actions:
- Reject the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of LNG terminal at South Soko Island as the preferred option
- Designate the waters around the Sokos as a marine park where no fishing is permitted, to create a true marine sanctuary
- Plan and act strategically when considering development in western waters so that the most sensitive areas are fully protected forever, and development is only permitted in other zones
Only by taking these measures can we avoid eventually pushing the dolphins to extinction.
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