Govt Mulls More Development In Wetland Buffer Areas

The government said on Monday that it will consider loosening restrictions on development around wetland areas, to the dismay of a local green group.

Development minister Michael Wong said wetland buffer areas are not necessarily "off-limits" and their development potential has to be considered.

Wong said a panel within his bureau will see whether plot ratios can be increased a little, without compromising the protection of conservation areas.

"The plot ratio for development in some wetland buffer areas is quite low... like 0.4 or lower than 1. There are voices in society asking if they can be raised a bit, while still guaranteeing the function of wetland buffer areas," Wong said.

But Roy Ng, a campaign manager with the Conservancy Association, said allowing higher-density development in these buffer zones would inevitably affect the whole wetland habitat.

"The buffer area often serves the purpose of maintaining a flight path for the winter migratory birds, as well as providing food supply for the birds," Ng told RTHK's Violet Wong.

He said noise and light pollution from human activities would also disturb creatures living in the wetlands, including Eurasian otters and some fireflies which are of conservation importance.

"This can be very disastrous or even irreversible," Ng said.