ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
HEAD 702 - PORT AND AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT
Air and Sea Communications - Port Works
110AP - Study on Tonggu Waterway
Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the upgrading of 110AP to Category A at an estimated cost of $50.10 million in money-of-the-day prices for carrying out a study on the impacts of the Tonggu Waterway on Hong Kong.
We need to conduct a study to fully assess the impacts on Hong Kong of a proposal to dredge a new shipping channel, the Tonggu Waterway, at the north west of Lantau Island.
2. The Director of Civil Engineering, with the support of the Secretary for Economic Services, proposes to upgrade 110AP to Category A at an estimated cost of $50.10 million in money-of-the-day (MOD) prices for carrying out a study on the impacts of the proposed Tonggu Waterway on Hong Kong.
3. The scope of the study comprises -
- study of the marine traffic impact and the economic benefits of the waterway to Hong Kong, particularly as regards the potential for the diversion of heavy traffic from the Ma Wan Channel and the impact of greater ease of access to port and special industries facilities in the northwest New Territories;
- identification and review of existing hydrological, geotechnical, water quality, ecological and marine traffic data around the proposed waterway and spoil disposal sites and the impact of the waterway on Hong Kong. This will include the examination of relevant information on meteorology, water quality, tides, currents, salinity and stratification, wind and waves, sediments and erosion characteristics, marine traffic volumes, ecological characteristics, fisheries resources and the Chinese white dolphin;
- field surveys to supplement existing data where necessary;
- establishment of mathematical models to assess the effects of the waterway with respect to water quality, tidal current, waves and sedimentation within Hong Kong;
- investigations and sensitivity testing for different alignments of the proposed waterway in order to minimize the impacts on Hong Kong;
- study of the effects of dredging and disposal activities on Hong Kong waters as a consequence of the construction and operation of the waterway; and
- assessment of the operational maintenance requirement of that part of the waterway within Hong Kong waters.
4. Industrial development in the Pearl River Delta has led to a significant increase in vessel traffic between Hong Kong and Pearl River ports. At the same time we are developing deep waterfront industries in the northwest New Territories. These developments have brought about an increasing volume of both deep draught and small vessels transiting the Ma Wan Channel. In addition, the development of major port facilities at Shekou has led to increasing numbers of deep-draught vessels using the Ma Wan Channel. At present some 800 large vessels use the channel each month; about half of these are en-route to ports in the Pearl River Delta. At the same time, some 25,000 smaller vessels use the channel each month. The potential for conflict at Ma Wan Channel is obvious given that the large vessels are not highly manoeuvrable in the confined waters of that channel. Whilst we are improving vessel control in the area, we should encourage any steps to reduce the increasing number of large vessels seeking to use it. The dredging of an alternative channel would improve the congested marine traffic and navigational hazards through the Ma Wan Channel and benefit the economic growth potential of the northwest New Territories and the Pearl River Delta.
5. The proposed waterway is located at the Pearl River mouth where the fresh water meets with the saline water. Part of the waterway is within Hong Kong waters covering the naturally deep water of Urmston Road and part is within Chinese waters. The dredging of the proposed waterway together with the associated disposal activities would give rise to a change in water flow, which might affect the water quality, hydrology, ecology and fisheries conservation in Hong Kong waters. In addition, the characteristics of siltation in Hong Kong waters might be changed, resulting in more frequent maintenance dredging in Hong Kong fairways. We therefore propose to conduct a study on the impacts of the waterway on Hong Kong.
6. Desk top studies carried out in house have already suggested the general preferred alignment for the Tonggu Waterway in terms of minimising its adverse impacts in both environmental and operational terms. However, we will have to carry out further detailed studies on the impacts of the proposed waterway upon Hong Kong waters, in terms of hydrology, ecology and environment. Having examined the in-house staff resources available, we consider it necessary to employ consultants to carry out the proposed study.
7. We estimate the capital cost of the proposed study covering that part which relates to Hong Kong to be $50.10 million in MOD prices, made up as follows -
|
$ million
(Dec 1995)
|
|
(a) Consultants' fees for :
|
39.25
|
|
i) field surveys within Hong Kong waters and laboratory tests to be carried out by sub-consultants
|
19.63
|
|
|
ii) review of existing data; supervision of field surveys and laboratory tests;
|
2.18
|
|
|
iii) marine ecology, fisheries and dolphin studies;
|
2.18
|
|
|
iv) set-up and calibration of mathematical models; running of models and assessment of impacts on Hong Kong waters;
|
6.00
|
|
|
v) assessment of marine traffic impact and economic appraisals;
|
2.18
|
|
|
vi) engineering study and sensitivity tests for an optimized channel to minimize impacts on Hong Kong including assessment of the operational maintenance requirement of that part of the waterway within Hong Kong waters;
|
3.27
|
|
|
vii) study the effects of dredging and disposal activities and propose mitigation measures; and
|
1.09
|
|
|
viii) field surveys and studies within Chinese territories. |
2.72
|
|
|
(b) Contingencies
|
3.92
|
|
Sub-total
|
43.17
(at December 1995 prices)
|
|
(c) Inflation allowance
|
6.93
|
|
Total
|
50.10
(in MOD prices)
|
A breakdown by man months of the estimate for consultants' fees is at the Enclosure.
8. Subject to approval, we will phase expenditure as follows -
|
Year
|
$ million
(Dec 1995)
|
Price
adjustment
factor
|
$ million
(MOD)
|
|
1996 - 97
|
13.08
|
1.07500
|
14.06
|
|
1997 - 98
|
26.16
|
1.18250
|
30.93
|
|
1998 - 99
|
3.93
|
1.30075
|
5.11
|
|
43.17
|
|
50.10
|
9. We derive the MOD estimate on the basis of the Government's forecasts of trend labour and construction prices for the period 1996 and 1999. We will award the consultancy on a lump-sum basis with provision for inflation adjustment, since the duration of the consultancy will exceed 12 months.
10. The proposed study will not generate any recurrent expenditure.
11. We briefed the Economic Services Panel of the Legislative Council in February 1996. Subject to the approval of the Finance Committee for upgrading 110AP to Category A and if the proposed study proves the construction of the waterway to be feasible, we will consult all those concerned with a view to determining whether the potential benefits of the scheme outweigh any potential disbenefits.
12. The proposed study has no environmental implications.
13. This project does not require land acquisition.
14. The Infrastructure Coordinating Committee has discussed the proposed waterway which is a major cross-border infrastructural development. The Committee agreed that the Chinese side would continue with their studies on the proposed waterway in parallel to our proposed study. The Chinese side has
largely completed the study on the impacts of the waterway within Chinese waters and has agreed to provide us with any necessary information to facilitate our study. We will liaise closely with the Chinese side through the Infrastructure Coordinating Committee to avoid duplication of efforts.
15. We included 110AP in Category B in December 1995. We schedule the consultancy study to commence in October 1996 for completion in March 1998.
(KK82)
110AP - Study on Tonggu Waterway
|
Consultant's Staff Cost
|
Estimated
man
months
|
Average
MPS
Salary
Point
|
Multiplier
factor
|
Estimated fee ($million)
|
|
i) Review of existing data; supervision of field survey and laboratory test
|
Professional Technical
|
4.4
20.5
|
47
20
|
3
3
|
0.89
1.29
|
|
|
ii) Marine ecology, fisheries and dolphin studies
|
Professional Technical
|
10.0
2.6
|
47
20
|
3
3
|
2.02
0.16
|
2.18
|
|
iii) Set-up and calibration of mathematical models; running of models and assessment of impacts on Hong Kong waters
|
Professional Technical
|
18.0
37.7
|
47
20
|
3
3
|
3.63
2.37
|
6.00
|
|
iv) Assessment of marine traffic impact and economic appraisals
|
Professional Technical
|
10.0
2.6
|
47
20
|
3
3
|
2.02
0.16
|
2.18
|
|
v) Engineering study and sensivity tests for an optimized channel to minimize impacts on Hong Kong including assessment of the operational maintenance requirement of that part of the waterway within Hong Kong
|
Professional Technical
|
12.0
13.5
|
47
20
|
3
3
|
2.42
0.85
|
3.27
|
|
vi) Study the effects of dredging and disposal activities and propose mitigation measures
|
Professional Technical
|
5.0
1.3
|
47
20
|
3
3
|
1.01
0.08
|
1.09
|
|
Total consultant's staff cost
|
16.90
|
|
Out-of-pocket expenses
|
|
vii) Field surveys and studies within Chinese territories
|
2.72
|
|
viii) Field surveys within Hong Kong waters and laboratory tests to be carried out by sub-consultants
|
19.63
|
|
Total out of pocket expenses
|
22.35 |
1. A multiplier factor of 3 is applied to the average MPS point to arrive at the full staff costs including the consultant's overheads and profit, as the staff will be employed in the consultant's offices. (At 1.4.95, MPS pt. 47 = $67,270 p.m. and MPS pt. 20 = $20,985 p.m.)
2. Out-of-pocket expenses are the actual costs incurred. The consultant is not entitled to any additional payment for overheads or profit in respect of these items.
3. The figures given above are based on estimates prepared by the Director of Civil Engineering. We will only know the actual man months actual fees when we have selected the consultant through the usual competitive lump sum fee bid system.
(KK82)
Last Updated on 8 December 1998
