The government on Monday said it found unauthorised structures on land at a site that it had earmarked for wetland conservation in the Northern Metropolis and that occupiers have been issued a deadline to cease the occupation.

This came after Greenpeace said it found more than nine hectares of what it said were "fishpond wetlands" in the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park which had been converted into an industrial aquaculture shrimp farm.

Such a mode of operations, the group said, relies heavily on artificial equipment such as large plastic tanks to isolate the body of water from soil, causing wetland loss and degradation.

In response, the Lands Department said that it had, following an on-site inspection in June 22, put up a notice on the same day ordering an end to the occupation, saying it would otherwise take the appropriate tenancy enforcement action.

The Planning Department, for its part, said the filling in of ponds or lands and excavation works must not be carried out without permission from the Town Planning Board and that staff have issued warning letters to remind the "registered owners and occupiers" on March 13 and 17, respectively, that any development must comply with the Town Planning Ordinance after initial inspections.

It has also launched an investigation following a joint site visit with the Lands Department in June, it said, warning it would carry out appropriate enforcement action if it is confirmed that there had been unauthorised development.

The environmental group said more than 90 bird species have been recorded at the affected fishponds, including those listed as endangered, vulnerable and at high risk of local extinction.

Greenpeace campaigner Wong Suet-mei said the group had carried out two site visits to the affected site last month during the peak breeding season of egrets.

“However, from our observations, there are no egrets at this industrial modernised agricultural farm, which implies that the ecological impact is very obvious, and we are afraid the impact will proceed and will exist until the next round of migratory season,” she said.

Wong is worried that as many migratory birds stop over at the city’s wetlands, they will not survive the next migration round if the area is converted into industrial modern aquaculture farms.

She called on the government to restore the affected wetlands and redefine "modern aquaculture" in ecologically sensitive areas to better protect diversity.




Edited by Tony Sabine