Tung Chung Bay
Lantau Island, the largest island of Hong Kong, contains irreplaceable natural resources, landscape and cultural heritage. With a wide variety of habitats, Lantau is home to many rare or endangered species, including Chinese White Dolphin, Finless Porpoise, Horseshoe Crab, Halophila ovalis, Romer’s Tree Frog, Bogadek’s Burrowing Lizard. However, Lantau has been facing development pressure continuously.
Planning of Lantau
The Administration unveiled the ‘Concept Plan for Lantau’ in November 2004. Although the Concept Plan was hailed as embracing the principles of sustainable development, it was in essence a development-led project. CA first commented on the plan in February 2005, stating it circumvented formal planning process. It placed development on top priority and conservation was relegated to mere decoration. On 3 March, CA issued a joint statement with other green groups, urging the Administration to withdraw the current plan, to draw up a revised plan after a thorough ‘needs analysis’ and ‘site selection study,’ and to access the cumulative environmental impact through strategic impact assessment. The Administration revised the Concept Plan in May 2007, to our disappointment, nothing substantial has been changed. The concept plan still fails to promote genuine sustainable development.
In 2014, the Administration established a Lantau Development Advisory Committee. However, none of members have a background on conservation and the Committee did not organize any meeting with green groups. In January 2016, the Committee and Development Bureau launched a series of public engagement activities. It was suggested in the engagement papers that most areas of Lantau could be used for green tourism, including establishment of animal farm in Shui Hau, stargazing and camping facilities in Sunset Peak. CA together with other green groups issued a joint statement in April 2016. We are concerned it is only a development-oriented project with insufficient protection and conservation to important conservation areas and habitats in Lantau. We proposed the Administration to formulate Development Permission Area Plan for rural areas that are not statutorily protected or designate them as Country Park, to designate offshore waters of Yi O and Tai O as Marine Park, to maintain the traffic restrictions of Lantau Closed Road (South Lantau Road included), etc.
At early establishment of the Committee, it was proposed that 1) areas between north-eastern Lantau and western Hong Kong Island, 2) areas near Hei Ling Chau Typhoon Shelter, and 3) waters around Kau Yi Chau, could be reclaimed to develop an East Lantau Metropolis(ELM). In September 2016, CA and other concerned groups unfurled protest banner on Kau Yi Chau to oppose to the development of ELM. Without sufficient justification for the need of ELM and Strategic Traffic and Transport Infrastructure, the project is likely to be another White Elephant.
On 3 June 2017, Development Bureau unveiled the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint (“Blueprint”) with the direction of “Development in the North, Conservation for the South” for Lantau. Many controversial proposed items were not included in the Blueprint. Although conservation of Shui Hau, Pui O and Tai Ho Valley was mentioned in the Blueprint, no specific details on implementation could be found. Due to insufficiency of conservation measures, we are concerned that “Conservation for the South” will exist only on paper. We reiterate that conservation is the planning premise for Lantau and should be prioritized before any development.
Joint statement - Urging for combating fly-tipping and eco-vandalism and implementing conservation policy for South Lantau (5-2-2018) (Chinese only)
Green Groups’ joint response to “Sustainable Lantau Blueprint” (16-6-2017)
Green Groups’ joint request for substantiation of the conservation plan for Lantau Appendix (13-4-2016)
Objecting road work without proper planning. Construction of road along North Lantau coast and opening of South Lantau Road will destroy ecological environment and natural coastline (10-3-2015) (Chinese only)
Tung Chung New Town Extension
In 2012, the government launched a public engagement on Tung Chung New Town Extension. To avoid further environmental destruction in Shek Lau Po, Shek Mun Kap and along Tung Chung River, CA and other green groups have been striving for the formulation of Development Permission Area Plan for Tung Ching west. As Tung Chung River is of high ecological value, Tung Chung River and its river band should be designated as “River Nature Park”. Through resumption of lands by the government, conservation of the area could be enhanced and become part of the sustainable flood prevention and drainage system.
Green Groups' Joint Response to Tung Chung Line Extension (20-7-2020)
CA’s comments on on EIA report of Tung Chung New Town Extension (31-12-2015)
Joint Green Groups’ Appeal for a Development Permission Area (DPA) Plan for Tung Chung River Valley and Coast Appendix (19-6-2015)
CA’s comments on Tung Chung New Town Development Extension Project Profile (31-12-2014)
CA’s comments on Stage 3 Public Engagement for Tung Chung New Town Extension Study (31-10-2014) (Chinese only)
CA’s comments on Stage 2 Public Engagement for Tung Chung New Town Extension Study (19-7-2013) (Chinese only)
CA’s comments on Stage 1 Public Engagement for Tung Chung New Town Extension Study (12-8-2012) (Chinese only)
