Letters | Hong Kong must not sacrifice pink dolphins to infrastructure

Readers discuss the ecological impact of reclamation off the coast of Lantau, the culling of wild boars, and the upcoming ban on single-use plastic

Reading Time:2 minutes

A Chinese white dolphin is seen in Lantau waters in August 2023. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 2:30pm, 30 Mar 2024

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I am bothered by the possibility that we may never again see pink dolphins frolicking in Hong Kong’s waters because of the Lantau reclamation work. We badly need concerted efforts to save these creatures from becoming extinct as a result of the city’s infrastructure development plans.

These dolphins were a common sight off the coast of Lantau Island not long ago. It led to regular dolphin-watching events in Tai O and helped revive the local economy to a certain extent.

However, the pace of infrastructure development in Hong Kong has long posed a threat to the habitats of animals both on land and in the sea. The construction of Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and the airport’s third runway has adversely affected the marine ecosystem around Lantau. There have been cases of pink dolphins being injured or even killed because of the heavy flow of sea traffic.

Engaging in massive land reclamation to create artificial islands off the coast of Lantau could cause irreversible damage to marine ecosystems. In addition, the acoustic vibrations from blasting or drilling by heavy machinery will disturb fish and marine mammals. Seabirds foraging for food in the vicinity of Lantau will undoubtedly face challenges.

Human activity and the changing environmental conditions will undermine the health of marine inhabitants. To protect sea animals from harm and keep the ocean intact as much as possible, it is incumbent on the government to map out a long-term plan for marine conservation.

Pages Ng, Tuen Mun