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Viola Zhou

Green activists in Hong Kong are urging lawmakers to reject the government’s plan for a new office to spearhead Lantau’s development unless more conservation experts are included.
The Sustainable Lantau Office, which will be set up after funding is approved by the Legislative Council, lacks environmental experts to make sure the island’s wetlands and wildlife will continue to thrive, they say.
The government unveiled its blueprint this month to transform the 147 sq km island into a commercial and tourism hub under the principle of “balancing development and conservation”.
The office will be tasked with planning, assessing, designing and implementing various development and conservation initiatives, according to the plan.
Community opposes Hong Kong government’s proposals for Lantau Island development
However, green groups were disappointed to find there would be just one conservation post in the office, compared with more than 15 engineers, town planners and architects.
“The input does not match the government’s promise,” said Dr Cheng Luk-ki, head of scientific research and conservation with Green Power.
“We doubt whether the government really puts conservation in first place, as it says.”
Cheng said the office should have at least three divisions overseeing conservation planning, implementation and law enforcement.
Instead of reporting to the Development Bureau, the teams should come under the Environment Bureau while cooperating with advocacy groups, he added.
Cheng said advocacy groups were lobbying lawmakers to veto the office proposal unless the government redesigned the office’s manpower structure.

The Development Bureau rejected the criticism. It said there would be three forestry officers with relevant experience in nature conservation.
“It must be stressed that successful implementation of conservation initiatives is normally a joint effort of professionals from different disciplines,” a spokeswoman said.
“All professional staff of the Sustainable Lantau Office will be fully aware of the importance of conservation initiatives on Lantau,” she said.
The green groups also criticised the absence of concrete measures in the Lantau blueprint to protect the island’s ecosystem.
Coalition slams east Lantau reclamation plan as Hong Kong’s largest white elephant, saying it is too costly and impractical
In a joint letter, 11 groups urged the government to set up more reserves, expand marine parks and limit the influx of trucks and tourists.
Such efforts would be essential to protect vulnerable species including buffaloes, dolphins and butterflies, the groups said.
The number of Chinese white dolphins in four areas off Lantau dropped from 188 in 2003 to 65 in 2015, according to the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society.
Yuki Lui Hiu-ying, the group’s project officer, said dolphins living on the north side of the island were forced to move due to construction work.
If a larger sea area off the southern and western parts of Lantau could be designated as marine parks, dolphins there would be protected from disturbance caused by high-speed vessels, she said.
The Development Bureau said the government was carefully examining the feasibility of various proposals.
Conservationists say the island has already suffered irreversible damage from unauthorised construction, with the development plan boosting land prices on Lantau.
Cheng said Mui Wo, Pui O and Tong Fuk were among the areas that had seen severe environmental destruction.
“In the plan, the government talks about how beautiful and resourceful Lantau is,” Cheng said. “But if the authorities do not change their mindset, the resources will soon be gone.”


Hong Kong green groups urge lawmakers to block Lantau office if more conservationists are not included

A member of the Save Lantau Alliance protests against plans for a new metropolis off southeast Lantau. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

The Lantau blueprint. Overall development and conservation plan. Source: Development Bureau

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Environmentalists are angry that just one conservationist is included in office that will spearhead island’s development; Development Bureau rejects criticism


Green activists in Hong Kong are urging lawmakers to reject the government’s plan for a new office to spearhead Lantau’s development unless more conservation experts are included.
