Among Hong Kong’s oldest residents are a species of Indo-Pacific Humpbacked Dolphin whose playful presence has been recorded in local waters since the early 1600s. This species, often referred to as the Chinese white dolphin, is unique in its distinctively colourful pigmentation. The origin of the rosy pink complexion is hypothesized to be either the result of an evolutionary loss of camouflage in the absence of large predators, or the presence of overdeveloped blood vessels near the surface of the skin that could change the dolphins’ hue as they thermoregulate. Chinese white dolphins can live for 40 years and have the approximate IQ of a 7-year-old child.
The first time I saw pictures of the iconic cotton candy coloured dolphins local to Hong Kong, I assumed that the images were modified. But each of these exceptionally intelligent creatures truly comes with their own distinctive pattern of pink and purple coloration. On a recent tour in the north Lantau waters, I was lucky enough to see several of these curious animals, who swam right up to the boat and showed off their beautiful hues while spiritedly diving around in the increasingly polluted waters. The dolphins seem to have a special relationship with the dedicated researchers from the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, who have been patiently and non-invasively collecting data about the creatures for decades. The researchers are able to recognize each dolphin on sight, and can casually chat about their quirky personalities and life history in the Pearl River Delta. Sadly, these histories are becoming alarmingly short, as development in the estuary has caused massive destruction to the pods. After a devastating report that an adult and an adolescent dolphin were recently discovered dead on local shores, the current number of local white dolphins left in Hong Kong is down to 60. A decade ago there were well over 150.
More than 1,400 hectares of sea area has been reclaimed since the mid 90s, ruining habitats and fisheries in the Pearl River Delta. Major development projects like the still uncompleted bridge standing between Hong Kong and Macau has caused toxic levels of water pollution, hazardous traffic, and overfishing. Dredging in the delta deposits suspended solids into the water, while dumping in contaminated mud pits releases heavy metals and organochlorides which poison dolphins and further deplete fishing reserves. The toxins affect baby dolphins the most, many of whom are born sick and die very young.
Dolphins are incredibly social creatures that rely upon the strength of their pod for survival. Upsurges of noise pollution caused by development and ferry traffic obscures the echolocation necessary for dolphins to hunt, communicate, and navigate in the delta, leaving many stranded and helpless. The high speed ferry routes directly traverse dolphin estuaries and it has become commonplace for researches to see mangled fins and other injuries from collisions with boat turbines. But the greatest peril is undoubtedly the development still to come. The proposed third runway at Hong Kong International Airport would be the final nail in the coffin for the local population of Chinese white dolphins.
The AAHK’s proposal to build a third runway at Hong Kong International Airport would cause irreparable damage to local marine ecology. The proposed repossession of 650 more hectares of waterway in the heart of three dolphin hotspots in North Chek Lap Kok represents one of the largest reclamation projects in Hong Kong history. The AAHK has claimed that a marine park will be established for the dolphins after the runway is completed in 2022, with utter disregard to the fact that the proposed “park” is already an existing marine area, and therefore cannot possibly mitigate the loss of reclaimed waterways. The assumption that the dolphins would simply return to Hong Kong after construction is finished would be laughable if it wasn’t so devastating.
The loss of the Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong may be the first casualty on the frontline of a vastly ill-conceived white elephant project, but they would certainly not be the last. The third runway will also greatly damage Lantau Island and contribute to pollution levels that would be hazardous to human health in surrounding areas. The plan is flawed even in its conception. Chek lap Kok is already one of the most congested airspaces in the world, and there is a finite number of flights that can travel through that area regardless of the number of runways. The crowded airspace, and the subsequent narrower waterways below, will not only be unsafe according to international safety standards, but will also have to be merged with airspace that is owned by mainland China and controlled by the People’s Liberation Army.
The endless repercussions of this conservatively estimated $141.5 billion project have yet to be addressed, and “quick fix” mentality is not only deadly to the white dolphin population and their surrounding environment, but it is also politically, socially, and financially unsustainable. It must be made clear that the nonchalance with which this development is being approached is simply unacceptable, and the plight of the irreplaceable white dolphins must be spread in order to save them before it is too late.
Abi Speers - Student from summer internship programme 2016
早於十七世紀，已有中華白海豚（學名為印度太平洋駝背豚）在香港水域出沒的紀錄。這種香港的原居民具有獨特的粉紅色身軀，讓人一眼便能夠辨認出來。小時候看到白海豚的相片，不禁驚歎大自然原來擁有那麼粉豔的動物。牠們是恆溫的哺乳類動物，有說其粉紅膚色因近皮膚表面的血管澎漲，看起來白裡透紅，智商更接近七歲兒童，實是可愛。
當然，相片遠不及親眼所見震撼。近日，筆者有幸跟隨香港海豚保育學會前往北大嶼山水域，尋找白海豚的蹤影。天公造美，當天我親眼目睹幾條好奇的中華白海豚，在船邊漫游和躍身擊浪，毫不保留地將牠們的光采呈現眼前，加上陽光的照射，令人紛紛嘖嘖稱奇。那種色彩，與風摩一時的「玫瑰金」，有過之而無不及，極為吸引。
然而，絢麗的粉紅卻同時與附近受污染的海水形成強烈對比，難免讓人慨歎起來。香港海豚保育學會對中華白海豚的研究已有十數年，同行的研究員能夠辨認出每一條海豚的身份，以及道出每一條獨有的習性和歷史。牠們的歷史能不能夠延續，全在香港人的手中。遺憾的是，現時興建中的港珠澳大橋雖然已經採取較環保的不浚挖式填海（non-dredging reclamation），但仍然在地盤周遭的水域造成「黃泥水」區域，其邊界清晰可見。結果自工程開展以來，大嶼山所觀察到的中華白海豚數目由十年前超過150條，銳減至現時不足60條。
這段悲慘的歷史仍然持續。興建中的港珠澳大橋預料在2017年底才能竣工，即將上馬的機場第三條跑道更在下月開展填海工程，其規模之大、時間之長，相信比港珠澳大橋更具破壞性，造成更嚴重的水污染。縮窄的航道亦增加白海豚與船隻碰撞的風險，導致內出血和骨折。將採用的不浚挖式填海仍須浚挖及傾倒淤泥，過程中會釋放沉積在海床數十年的重金屬及有機化合物，並在食物鏈累積，令海豚中毒，尤其增加年幼海豚的患病和死亡率。
海豚作為群體動物，尤其依賴回聲定位來溝通、捕獵。長期處於填海機器造成的高噪音環境，海豚可能變得遲滯和迷失，喪失方向感及覓食能力。三跑牽涉650公頃填海造地，為本港史上最大的填海工程，對海洋生態造成前所未有的影響。環評所建議的緩解措施，包括設立西南及索罟群島海岸公園，只會在2022年工程完工後進行，遠水不能救近火，7年間海豚的棲息地將出現淨損失，「海豚會自行返回大嶼山水域」的講法成疑。 中華白海豚將首當其衝成為大白象工程的第一受害者。然而，人類亦不能置身事外，從生態環境至人類健康，三跑絕對是禍害深遠。
更甚的是，從成本效益的角度出發，造價達1415億的三跑工程並非物有所值。受內地空域管制所限，飛機起飛後須爬升至15,700呎，才能進入內地空域。政府表示三跑可令升降量由68架次提升至102架次，這是基於一個重要假設——與深圳機場「共享」空域，可以是兩地實時協調航班，甚至統一兩地空中管制中心，然而政府仍未公開有關協議詳情。現時香港國際機場雙跑道系統的升降量遠不及當初規劃的86架次，正正是基於同樣的情況。一日空域問題未解決，三跑都不能夠發揮最大效用，額外的34架次只會是空話。
香港的水域、海洋生態、空域並不是無限，三跑對經濟、社會、環境均是不可持續的。因為三跑，我們奉上生態、健康及鉅額金錢；因為三跑，中華白海豚被迫犧牲、市民無奈接受大規模填海、水質、空氣和噪音污染，更可能失去空域控制權。我們必須繼續發聲，清楚地向三跑說「不」，別等所有東西都失去、被強加在我們身上，一切都已經太遲去挽救時才後悔。我們絕對有能力和義務為下一代保護香港獨一無二的環境！
Abi Speers－2016暑期實習生
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