JENNIFER NGOjennifer.ngo@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Sunday, 27 September, 2015, 3:48am
UPDATED : Sunday, 27 September, 2015, 3:48am
Po Lin Monastery Big Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
An official report on the proposed development of Lantau will be submitted to the chief executive by the end of the year, with a public consultation lined up for early next year, the secretary for development said yesterday.
Eleven sites were identified as major recreation and tourism areas, while three others could be "additional places of interests", Paul Chan Mo-po said, giving a preview of what to expect.
"I must point out these suggestions are just early ideas; further technical tests and financial estimations are needed to determine their feasibility," he said.
"We will make an overall plan, then set short-term, mid-term and long-term development plans and a timetable."
Chan outlined the development plans after the sixth meeting of the Lantau development advisory committee.
The plans split the island into four major areas: a northern Lantau corridor for economic and housing developments; a northeastern node for tourism, formed by reclaiming land at Sunny Bay and extending Hong Kong Disneyland; a metropolis in the east with a core business district; and the predominant part of Lantau, to be set aside for conservation, cultural and green tourism.
The 11 tourism points identified include Sunny Bay, Mui Wo, Siu Ho Wan, Tai Tung Shan or Sunset Peak, Tai O, the various Buddhist monasteries and Tung Chung valley.
"The committee suggested 'experiential' modes of transport, such as water taxis, cable cars or aerial tramways … bicycle lanes and tour buses, to connect the tourist spots," Chan said.
Chan said the plans also aimed to provide Hongkongers with places of leisure. "The place is so big; let's not waste it."
He added his bureau had "no additional information" on recent news that the island to house facilities for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge had moved.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1861675/development-plans-lantau-include-experimental
