EPD Approves Environmental Impact Assessment for Ngau Tam Mei Development with Conditions

EIA report for Development at Ngau Tam Mei Area approved with conditions

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) announced, regarding the application submitted by the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO), that the Director of Environmental Protection (DEP) yesterday (December 18) approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the Development at Ngau Tam Mei Area (the Project) with conditions.

The Project is a designated project (DP) under Schedule 3 of the EIAO (i.e. an urban development or redevelopment project covering an area of more than 50 hectares). It includes two DPs under Schedule 2 of the EIAO requiring an environmental permit for its construction and operation, including the new distributor roads and part of the revitalisation of the Ngau Tam Mei Drainage Channel (NTMDC) and river diversion works.

The CEDD has exhibited the EIA report for public inspection from October 6 to November 4, 2025, in accordance with the EIAO. During the public inspection period, the EPD received a total of seven public comments. The EIA Subcommittee of the Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) discussed in detail the EIA report and the public comments at its meeting on December 5, 2025. Subsequently, the ACE unanimously recommended that the EPD approved the EIA report with conditions and recommendations at its meeting on December 11, 2025.

A spokesperson for the EPD said that the DEP considers that, through the implementation of mitigation measures recommended in the EIA report, the Project will bring multiple environmental benefits to the area. These include addressing the existing adverse environmental impacts caused by scattered and disorganised brownfield operations within the project area, thereby enhancing land-use efficiency and improving the overall environmental quality of the district. Furthermore, by widening and revitalising the NTMDC into a multifunctional blue-green spine, the ecological value and function of the project area and its surroundings can be enhanced. In addition, through wetland compensation connecting nearby isolated wetlands, the Project will increase the overall ecological value of the area.

The spokesperson stressed that the EPD has thoroughly considered the requirements of the EIA Study Brief and the Technical Memorandum on Environmental Impact Assessment Process, comments on the environment and ecological impacts raised by the public during the public inspection period of the EIA report, suggestions and data given by green groups in respect of the EIA report (including the State of Hong Kong Biodiversity 2025 published by the WWF-Hong Kong), and the response from the CEDD during the ACE meeting, as well as comments and recommended conditions raised by the ACE on approving the EIA report. The EPD decided to approve the EIA report with conditions.

The approval conditions mainly include requiring the CEDD to:

(i) submit a detailed Habitat Creation and Management Plan (HCMP) as recommended in the EIA report to the DEP for approval no later than three months before the commencement of construction of the Project, and consult the Agricultural, fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD);

(ii) submit an Implementation Plan for Ecological Enhancement Features Design (IPEEFD) for the NTMDC to the DEP for approval no later than three months before commencement of construction of the Project, and consult relevant government departments, including the AFCD, the Drainage Services Department, and the Planning Department;

(iii) set up an Environmental Committee to provide professional and stakeholders' advice on the preparation of HCMP and IPEEFD, and on the effectiveness of the ecological mitigation/enhancement measures as recommended in the EIA report and the two approved abovementioned plans; and

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(iv) submit a Bird-Friendly Design Guideline for buildings and noise barriers within the Project area to the DEP for approval before commencement of construction of the Project.

In addition, the CEDD shall review the progress of the implementation of various plans, the environmental monitoring results, and the effectiveness of ecological mitigation/enhancement measures. The EPD will continue to closely liaise with relevant government departments to follow up on the abovementioned approval conditions.

The approved EIA report and the approval conditions have been uploaded to the EPD's EIAO website (www.epd.gov.hk/eia). Members of the public may also visit the EIAO Register Office at 27th floor, Southorn Centre, Wan Chai, to inspect these documents.

Source: AI-found images

Third "Extension Notice" published under Extension of Government Leases Ordinance

The Lands Department published the third "Extension Notice" under the Extension of Government Leases Ordinance (Cap. 648) today (December 19) in accordance with the requirement under the Ordinance to give six years' prior notice, covering general purpose leases (GPLs) (i.e. general residential, commercial, industrial leases, hereafter "applicable leases") which expire in 2032 (i.e. from January 1 to December 31, 2032) and do not contain a right of renewal, to announce that all land leases of the 28 lots involved in this batch have been extended for a term of 50 years. The Extension Notice has been uploaded to the website of the Lands Department (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/resources/gov-notices/lease-extension/ext_2025.html).

Land leases extended under the Ordinance, including the leases of the 28 lots in this batch, do not require payment of additional premium but are subject to an annual payment of Government rent equivalent to 3 per cent of the rateable value of the relevant land. The 28 lots include eight located in Kowloon and 20 on Hong Kong Island.

Regarding the leases extended by the Lands Department through the above "Extension Notice", the encumbrances, interests and rights (such as mortgages) under the original lease will be carried forward to the extended lease term without being affected. Owners do not have to perform any procedures, nor are they required to execute lease extension documents with the Government or rearrange mortgages. The Lands Department has issued letters to the relevant owners or owners' corporations to inform them of the lease extension arrangements.

From January 2026 onwards, the Land Registry will add a remark in the respective land registers of applicable leases covered by the "Extension Notices" to enable the public to be informed of the extension of their leases. As a large number of properties are involved (Note), it is anticipated that the addition of remarks for the land lots involved in the three "Extension Notices" will be completed by the second quarter of next year.

A spokesperson for the Development Bureau said, "The arrangement of extending land leases without having to execute a new contract under the Ordinance brings tremendous convenience to the public and businesses, effectively enhances the confidence of property owners and investors in the real estate market, and has received widespread support from various sectors of the community. The mechanism manifests the solid safeguards for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong under the steadfast and successful implementation of the 'one country, two systems' principle."

The Ordinance, which came into effect on July 5, 2024, establishes a standing statutory mechanism for handling lease extension matters for applicable leases which do not contain a right of renewal and expire on or after the effective date in batches. Together with the "Extension Notices" published on July 5, 2024, and December 27, 2024, the Government has extended leases expiring from July 5, 2024, to the end of 2032. The Government will publish the next "Extension Notice" by the end of 2026 for handling lease extension for applicable leases expiring in 2033, in accordance with the requirement under the Ordinance to give six years' prior notice.

Note: The three Extension Notices cover a total of 407 lots, involving about 11 500 properties.

Source: AI-found images