Executive summary

Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Ltd. (“MMHK”) has been commissioned by the Ocean Park Corporation to undertake the Environmental Team (ET) services to carry out environmental monitoring and audit (EM&A) for the operation phase of Ocean Park Tai Shue Wan Water World (the Project).

This is the 7^th Monthly EM&A Report for the operation phase of the Project summarising the findings on EM&A during the period from 1 to 31 May 2022, and is submitted under the Environmental Permit (No. EP-487/2014/A).

Environmental Monitoring and Audit Progress

A summary of the operation phase monitoring activities during the reporting period is listed as below:

● Monitoring of the Ecological Enhancement Area (monthly): 25 May 2022

● Landscape and visual monitoring (bi-monthly): 19 May 2022

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

On 27 August 2014, the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and Environmental Monitoring and Audit (EM&A) Manual (Register No.: AEIAR-184/2014) for the “Tai Shue Wan Development at Ocean Park” (the Project) was approved and an Environmental Permit (EP) (Permit No.: EP-487/2014) was issued to the Ocean Park Corporation (Project Proponent). Based on the Application for Variation of Environmental Permit No. VEP-539/2017, the current valid EP (Permit No.: EP-487/2014/A) was issued on 10 January 2018. The location and layout of the Project are presented in Appendix A.

Upon the completion of construction of the Project in May 2021 and the approved termination of construction phase EM&A programme in July 2021, the Water World opened on 21 September 2021. Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Ltd. (“MMHK”) has been commissioned by the Project Proponent to undertake the Environmental Team (ET) services to carry out operation phase EM&A for the Ocean Park Tai Shue Wan Water World Project.

Under the requirements of Section 3 of EP and the EM&A Manual, environmental monitoring of ecology, landscape and visual are required for one year during operation phase. This is the 7^th Operation Phase Monthly EM&A Report summarising the monitoring results for the Project during the Reporting Period from 1 to 31 May 2022.

1.2 Project Organisation

The project organisation and the contacts of key personnel of the Project are shown in Appendix B.

1.3 Environmental Status and Programme

The current monitoring is under the operation phase of the Project with all construction activities completed, thus there were no construction works involved.

Monitoring of ecological enhancement area was conducted with a monitoring programme for once per month for 12 months during operation phase.

Landscape and visual monitoring was conducted with a monitoring programme for once in bi-monthly intervals throughout the 12-month establishment period in operation phase.

Submissions required under the EP that were approved by the EPD and deposited to the EIA Ordinance Register Office are as listed below:

● Detailed Vegetation Survey Report

● Woodland Compensation Plan

● Ardeid Inspection Report

● Short-nosed Fruit Bat Inspection Report

● Baseline Monitoring Report

● Ecological Enhancement Plan

● Visual and Landscape Plan

● Detailed Design Report for the Sewerage Facilities

● Noise Audit Report

2 Monitoring of Ecological Enhancement Area

2.1 Monitoring Requirement

As required under the Section 8.3.2.4 of the approved EM&A Manual and the approved Ecological Enhancement Plan under EP Condition 2.8, the Ecological Enhancement Area (EEA) should be monitored monthly after establishment, for one year during operation phase to check the effectiveness of the setting.

Direct observation and counting of ardeids was made from a vantage point (i.e., point count method) at the evening time from an hour before sunset, and last until the nightfall. Before conducting point count survey, the EEA was also inspected and searched for any ardeids, other birds or faunal groups utilising the habitat. Any aggregation of night roosting ardeids in the EEA or adjacent area would be located, and the ardeid species would be identified and counted throughout the monitoring. Moreover, day roost of Black-crowned Night Heron in the EEA or adjacent area would also be recorded if any.

2.2 Monitoring Findings

Monitoring of the EEA was undertaken on 25 May 2022. The EEA was inspected, but no ardeids or day roost of Black-crowned Night Heron were found in the EEA. Individuals of Black Kite (Milvus migrans) were observed soaring over the area. Other bird species observed in the EEA include Black-collared Starling (Gracupica nigricollis), Chinese Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis), Oriental Magpie-Robin (Copsychus saularis), and Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus). A butterfly species Dark Evening Brown (Melanitis phedima) was also recorded within the EEA. Field signs i.e. diggings left by wild boars were observed next to the pond within the EEA (as shown in Figure 2.1). A group of Short-nosed Fruit Bat (Cynopterus sphinx), which is a species listed as “Near Threatened” in Red List of China's Vertebrates (Jiang et al., 2016)[1], was also observed roosting under Chinese Fan-palms within the EEA (see Figure 2.2), which echoes the findings of the Short-nosed Fruit Bat Inspection Report submitted prior the construction phase.


Figure 2.1 Diggings left by wild boar in EEA	Figure 2.2 Short-nosed Fruit Bat roosting on frond of Chinese Fan-palm

Point count survey was conducted covering the period from one hour before sunset until nightfall (17:52 to 19:15). Direct observation was made at the vantage point next to the EEA with an unobstructed view covering the EEA, seawall at Tai Shue Wan, Aberdeen Channel and a portion of the East Lamma Channel. The location of the vantage point is indicated in Appendix C. Throughout the monitoring period, no ardeids were noted roosting within or flying towards the EEA. On the other hand, an individual of Little Egret was observed resting on the seawall of Tai Shue Wan, while few individuals of Little Egret were observed flying towards the typhoon shelter.

3 Landscape & Visual Monitoring

3.1 Monitoring Requirement

Landscape and visual mitigation measures for the operation phase are listed in Table 9.2 of the Approved EM&A Manual, while the detailed implementation plans are presented in the approved Visual and Landscape Plan.

According to Section 9.1 of the approved EM&A Manual, a Registered Landscape Architect (RLA), as a member of the ET team, would be responsible for monitoring the implementation of landscape and visual measures during the operation phase.

As required under the Section 9.5 of the approved EM&A Manual, all landscape planting shall be monitored bi-monthly during the first year of the operation phase to ensure proper establishment and its effectiveness as landscape and visual mitigation measures. The scope of the site audit during this 12-month establishment period in operation phase shall include the following:

● All necessary horticultural operations and replacement planting are undertaken throughout the 12-month establishment period to ensure healthy establishment.

Any observation of unsatisfactory horticultural maintenance works, failure of establishment of soft landscape or poor condition of established planting shall be recorded for Ocean Park operator to undertake any necessary actions to improve the conditions of the landscape planting.

3.2 Audit Summary

In the reporting period, landscape and visual site inspection was conducted on 19 May 2022 with references to recommended mitigation measures provided in Appendix D. The implementation status of the landscape and visual mitigation measures are summarised in Table 3.1. Representative photos showing the implementation of the mitigation measures are presented in Appendix E.

Follow-up measures by the Project Proponent were observed. Removed trees were replaced by newly transplanted trees in good health condition. The health condition of several trees with poor health observed in the last monitoring period were found to have improved greatly.

For additional observations, several trees were found to be damaged by wild boars. Regular watering and close monitoring of these trees are recommended. Araucaria species on site were observed to become frequent targets of attacks by wild boars, and struggled to properly establish given the limited space in the landscape deck area. It is recommended to consider other tree species of smaller sizes for future tree replacement and planting design in the Landscape Deck Area or other ornamental planting areas.

The removal of tree saplings of invasive species on the green roof floor was hindered by the lack of safe access. Removal of such invasive species is recommended to avoid further spreading once safety access is available.

Table 3.1: Landscape and Visual Audit Summary for Operation Phase

Landscape and Visual Mitigation Measures during Operation Phase	Implementation Status
OP01 - Sensitive Design and Disposition	The implementation of mitigation measures was checked by ET during the bi-monthly site inspection. Implementation of the measures OP01 to OP05 and most of the OP06 was observed. Major observations for follow-up include: · Several trees in poor health condition and damaged by wild boars were observed. · Invasive species such as Leucaena leucocephala were observed on the green roof floor. · Araucaria species on site were observed to struggle to establish properly in the Landscape Deck Area. It is recommended to monitor closely of the weaker trees, remove weedy species to ensure health of the proposed trees (when safety access is available), and consider other tree species of smaller sizes for future tree replacement and planting design in the Landscape Deck Area or other ornamental planting areas.
OP02 - Compensatory Tree Planting
OP03 - Enhancement Planting
OP04 - Green Roofs and Vertical Greening
OP05 - Reprovision of Flamingo Pond
OP06 - Responsive Lighting Design
OP07 - Woodland Compensation	To be fully implemented (pending for update on the Woodland Compensation Plan)

4 Conclusions

Operation phase EM&A works including the monitoring of the EEA and landscape planting were conducted in accordance with the EM&A Manual during the reporting period.

In this month of monitoring of the EEA, survey was conducted on 25 May 2022 covering the period from one hour before sunset until nightfall. No ardeids were noted roosting in the EEA, while a species of conservation importance, Short-nosed Fruit Bat, was observed within the EEA.

Bi-monthly landscape establishment monitoring was conducted on 19 May 2022. Major observations for follow-up include: (1) Several trees found in poor health condition and damaged by wild boars, (2) Weeds found in the green roof areas and (3) Araucaria species on site struggling to establish properly in the Landscape Deck Area. It is recommended to monitor closely of the weaker trees, remove weedy species to avoid further spreading (when safe access is available), and consider other tree species of smaller sizes for future tree replacement and planting design in the Landscape Deck Area or other ornamental planting areas.

[1] Jiang, Z. G., Jiang, J.-P., Wang, Y. Z., Zhang, E., Zhang, Y. Y., Li, L.L., Xie, F., Cai, B., Cao, L., Zheng, G. M., Dong, L., Zhang, Z. W., Ding, P., Luo, Z. H., Ding, C. Q., Ma, Z. J., Tang, S. H., Cao, W. X., Li, C. W., Hu, H. J., Ma, Y., Wu, Y., Wang, Y. X., Zhou, K. Y., Liu, S. Y., Chen, Y. Y., Li, J. T., Feng, Z. J., Wang, Y., Wang, B., Li, C., Song, X. L., Cai, L., Zang, C. X., Zeng, Y., Meng, Z. B., Fang, H. X. and Ping, X. G. (2016). Red List of China’s Vertebrates. Biodiversity Science, 24(5): 500–551.