Hong Kong to conduct public consultation on Lantau development plans

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said on Wednesday that the Hong Kong government will conduct public consultation in the first half of this year before promulgating a blueprint for the development of Lantau Island.

Delivering his annual policy address at the Legislative Council, Leung said the blueprint will set out the indicative implementation timetable for related projects, adding that the government will set up a dedicated Lantau Development Office as soon as possible to undertake these tasks.

Leung said the Lantau Development Advisory Committee has submitted a report to him, proposing the development of an economic and housing corridor at Northshore Lantau. The population will be concentrated in Tung Chung and Siu Ho Wan. Development for commercial, tourism and recreational purposes will be located at the airport, the boundary crossing facilities island of Hong Kong- Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Tung Chung East and the Sunny Bay reclamation area. Northeast Lantau will be for leisure and entertainment uses.

Another proposal is to examine the possibility of further developing the East Lantau Metropolis by constructing an artificial island near Kau Yi Chau. In the long run, the Metropolis is expected to become a community with a population of 400,000 to 700,000. It will link Hong Kong Island, Lantau and the New Territories West. Priority will be given to building transport infrastructure and a low-carbon smart city in developing the above.

Most places in Lantau are rich in natural and cultural resources, but lack facilities. Both the Lantau Development Advisory Committee and the government consider that apart from stepping up conservation efforts, short and medium-term improvement measures should be put in place to facilitate public enjoyment of Lantau, especially central and south Lantau, he added.

Lantau is the biggest island of Hong Kong, with a land mass of 147.16 square kilometers, almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island.