SCMP this morning reports on a floating protest by local fish farmers against the continued dredging work at the Disneyland Hong Kong site. I mentioned in an email to a local reporter about a month ago about seeing a quite noticeable brown streak of sediment moving from the Disney site across the channel towards Peng Chau in early March. As I've noted before these brown streaks of sediment are nothing new in relation to the Disney project and have been detrimental to local fishermen and particularly to local fish farmers.

Chow Fu-yau, chairman of an outlying island fish-farming group, said the second phase of reclamation at northeastern Lantau, which started around the clock in July 2003, killed 60 to 70 per cent of fish at the Cheung Sha Wan Fish Culture Zone near Lantau Island in October.

He said the northeastern monsoon had moved suspended particles in the water from Penny's Bay to the fish culture zone.

"The works are being carried out 24 hours a day, but there is no 24-hour monitoring," he said. "Water turned yellow and quality deteriorated last October."

Fish farmers were frustrated at the government's refusal to compensate them for their loss, estimated at $15 million, even though a government study revealed the high level of suspended particles in the area, Mr Chow said.

"The government is irresponsible. It killed our fish but refused to compensate us for our loss."

...

A spokesman for the Civil Engineering and Development Department said there was no direct evidence linking the deterioration of water quality in the zone to Penny's Bay reclamation work.

...

A Disney spokeswoman said the Penny's Bay reclamation was a government project.

As expected Disney tries to wash their hands of the bad press and they and the government refuse to accept responsiblity for the destruction of local livelihoods through "development efforts". This sort of thing might give a clue to the press why local groups (not involved in land speculation) are up in arms about the Lantau Development Concept Plan.