Late 1980s - Environmentalists began to call attention to Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong waters
Early 1993 - An environmental impact assessment study was conducted to investigate the impacts that might be caused by the airport and related project works on the dolphins
End of 1993 - following recommendations made in the assessment, AFCD obtained funding for a three-year study of the dolphins and the study was undertaken by the Swire Institute of Marine Science
1996 - AFCD commissioned Dr. Thomas Jefferson to conduct a multi-disciplinary research programme on the population biology of the Chinese white dolphin. (Executive Summary)
