Q Should the development of Discovery Bay be stopped?
I am all for developing and making improvements in Discovery Bay, but surely HKR International managing director Victor Cha's comments have been taken out of context if not misconstrued entirely.
A chapel, spa and cooking school! A fleet of boats between Tai Pak Wan and Yi Pak Wan! You must be joking! Just how these stunning ideas are going to attract tourists or improve life in DB boggles the mind. Unless we can get Leonardo to recreate the Sistine, I can't see a chapel pulling them in. The boat ride would hardly be picturesque and would take about two minutes. A 'fleet' would seem like overkill.
That Discovery Bay was initially designed in a way that completely ignored its waterfront - the Plaza pointedly blocks off all views to the water and not one eating establishment was, initially, given al fresco dining rights or even a sea view - was the first mistake. This has, thankfully, been partially rectified over the past few years and the latest developments at the old Plaza appear to be a step in the right direction.
However, it is with some trepidation that most residents await the completion of the 'improvements' as the design of and facilities at the new clubhouse in the Sienna complex is another example of a lost opportunity to make the most of natural attractions. The new clubhouse has no restaurants and the sea front is accessible only via the swimming pool changing rooms.
What HKR International could do to make DB a better place to live and visit would be to put its development in the hands of someone who appreciates its beauty, who can leverage its environment and who can make it a viable place for restaurateurs, retailers and others to open shop. It is not lost on the residents that dining choices are extremely limited, no major retail chain has opened an outlet in DB, and what retail space is available is taken up by hardware shops, renovation contractors, a second-hand bookstore and children's costume shops.