Hong Kong government scales back development plan for Lantau

Officials adopt eight initiatives including water sports centre, mountain bike training ground and adventure park, but spas, resorts and Tai O cable car are out

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Much of Lantau is country park, which will not be touched by development. Photo: Stanley Shin

Published: 10:30pm, 3 Jun 2017Updated: 11:12pm, 3 Jun 2017

Authorities have scaled back expansion plans for recreational development on Hong Kong’s largest outlying island after a number of leisure facilities were thought to be not feasible, according to a final blueprint unveiled on Saturday.

In the latest Sustainable Lantau Blueprint, plans to build spas and resorts on the southern shoreline of the island, a cable car extension to Tai O fishing village, an animal farm and stargazing facilities at Sunset Peak were removed.

Map showing the projects and initiatives that form the Lantau development and conservation plan. Source: Development Bureau

The original proposal of developing 14 recreation and tourism areas released for public consultation last year has been whittled down to eight initiatives.

They are a water sports centre, a mountain bike training ground, camping grounds, a beach volleyball court, flower and tree appreciation areas, two heritage and nature trails and an adventure park.

“We have heard a lot from the public and conducted our own internal studies. The feasibility of carrying out [some] projects was quite low, so we decided not to go forward with them,” Director of Civil Engineering and Development Lam Sai-hung said.