Buffalo Bill
5th September 2008, 12:09 AM
Some good news from Tony Henderson:
Dolphins champion No-Go-At-Soko as the proposed LNG terminal at Sokos no longer needed following new energy agreements
The threats to Chinese white dolphin and Finless porpoise are now relieved as Hong Kong does not see the need to build a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at South Soko Island any more!
A government announcement on August 28th delivered this good news following a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the National Energy Administration and the HKSAR Government securing natural gas supply from
the mainland for another 20 years for the city. The Chief Executive's statement described it as "extremely good news for Hong Kong's energy
supply and ecological environment.
"WWF is delighted with this decision, as the marine ecosystem around the
Sokos islands will not be threatened with the LNG terminal construction
and operation for at least the next 20 years. Our No-Go-At-Soko
campaign, where 20,000 people signed the petition in January 2007, and
our subsequent lobbying of the government, were some of the key tipping
points in the government's decision to withdraw from the LNG plans.
Without your support, we could not have come this far with
No-Go-At-Soko. Your objection to the LNG terminal through signing WWF's
petition and submitting views to the Environmental Protection Department
in January 2007 made it loud and clear to the Government that this
industrial facility is not compatible with the marine life in Soko
Islands and its surrounding waters, nor with the views of the Hong Kong
people. We thank you for working with us, signing our petition, lobbying
the government, and making a difference to Hong Kong's marine life for
current and future generations.
However, the battle does not stop here! With the apparent need for an
LNG terminal now removed, WWF is urging the Government to immediately
designate the Soko Islands and Southwest Lantau waters, which were
officially demarcated in 2002 for protection, as Marine Parks. The final
designation by the Chief Executive of these two marine parks will
conclude the celebration of this victory for our iconic, and important,
Chinese white dolphin and other marine life here.
Making Hong Kong marine parks no-take zones
Currently commercial fishing is still allowed in marine parks and
protection is far from sufficient in ensuring species reproduction. The
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is to make
recommendations on sustainable fisheries and marine conservation in a
report later this year. Making all marine parks (2% of local waters)
no-fishing areas could be one of the proposals. WWF will actively
participate in the consultation process and your views are equally
important to make this a priority in the Government's agenda.
Currently Hong Kong has only one disturbance-free Marine Reserve of the
size of Victoria Park, 0.016% of our local waters. This is far from
sufficient for creating a living environment for the life underwater.
Please send your views to AFCD at: mailbox@afcd.gov.hk (mailbox%40afcd.gov.hk) to support more
protection for local marine life.
Dolphins champion No-Go-At-Soko as the proposed LNG terminal at Sokos no longer needed following new energy agreements
The threats to Chinese white dolphin and Finless porpoise are now relieved as Hong Kong does not see the need to build a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal at South Soko Island any more!
A government announcement on August 28th delivered this good news following a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the National Energy Administration and the HKSAR Government securing natural gas supply from
the mainland for another 20 years for the city. The Chief Executive's statement described it as "extremely good news for Hong Kong's energy
supply and ecological environment.
"WWF is delighted with this decision, as the marine ecosystem around the
Sokos islands will not be threatened with the LNG terminal construction
and operation for at least the next 20 years. Our No-Go-At-Soko
campaign, where 20,000 people signed the petition in January 2007, and
our subsequent lobbying of the government, were some of the key tipping
points in the government's decision to withdraw from the LNG plans.
Without your support, we could not have come this far with
No-Go-At-Soko. Your objection to the LNG terminal through signing WWF's
petition and submitting views to the Environmental Protection Department
in January 2007 made it loud and clear to the Government that this
industrial facility is not compatible with the marine life in Soko
Islands and its surrounding waters, nor with the views of the Hong Kong
people. We thank you for working with us, signing our petition, lobbying
the government, and making a difference to Hong Kong's marine life for
current and future generations.
However, the battle does not stop here! With the apparent need for an
LNG terminal now removed, WWF is urging the Government to immediately
designate the Soko Islands and Southwest Lantau waters, which were
officially demarcated in 2002 for protection, as Marine Parks. The final
designation by the Chief Executive of these two marine parks will
conclude the celebration of this victory for our iconic, and important,
Chinese white dolphin and other marine life here.
Making Hong Kong marine parks no-take zones
Currently commercial fishing is still allowed in marine parks and
protection is far from sufficient in ensuring species reproduction. The
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is to make
recommendations on sustainable fisheries and marine conservation in a
report later this year. Making all marine parks (2% of local waters)
no-fishing areas could be one of the proposals. WWF will actively
participate in the consultation process and your views are equally
important to make this a priority in the Government's agenda.
Currently Hong Kong has only one disturbance-free Marine Reserve of the
size of Victoria Park, 0.016% of our local waters. This is far from
sufficient for creating a living environment for the life underwater.
Please send your views to AFCD at: mailbox@afcd.gov.hk (mailbox%40afcd.gov.hk) to support more
protection for local marine life.