Nevertheless, SEA trends in Asia require a re-examination on its role and
effectiveness to avoid SEA implementation in Asia mimicking SEA developments in Europe
without customizing its application to local conditions in Asia. Policy trends of SEA in Asia
indicate that it is currently an important environmental policy consideration for countries in
the region with the formulation of SEA legislations in Hong Kong,China, South Korea, Taiwan,
Vietnam and Indonesia. Nevertheless, SEA implementation also has been impeded by challenges
in realizing practical SEA public participation especially in countries with traditionally
high cultural power distance dynamics such as China, Indonesia and Vietnam.