Replies to Questions from Finance Committee Members

Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04
CONTROLLING OFFICER'S REPLY TO
Reply Serial No.
INITIAL WRITTEN QUESTION
ETWB(E)003
Head : 22 - Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Question Serial No.
Programme : (2) Nature Conservation and Country Parks
Controlling Officer : Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Director of Bureau : Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
Question : Will the Government inform this Council of the following:
(a) the manpower and expenditures involved in the handling of ecological impact
assessment applications and studies;
(b) the costs for handling such applications and whether they will be fully
recovered from the fees charged?
Asked by : Hon. CHOY So-yuk
Reply :
(a) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is responsible for providing
the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) with advice on ecological matters arising
from applications submitted under the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (EIAO).
About 19 professional staff in the nature conservation and marine conservation divisions of
AFCD take part in this work in addition to their other duties. The notional staff cost
involved is about $2.6 million per annum.
(b) According to a review completed in 2000, the fees for applications under the EIAO can
recover over 90% of the average costs for processing the applications. Such costs include
the cost of the service that AFCD provides to EPD.
Gototop
Signature
Name in block letters THOMAS C Y CHAN
Post Title Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation
Date 20 March 2003
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