Improve village, 'but no more Stanleys please'
Residents and tourists support plans to improve access to various parts of Tai O village and connect existing scenic spots, but warn they do not want to see changes to the essential character of the old village or efforts to make it look like another Stanley.
Lai Kam-shui, who runs a dried seafood store in Tai O, said he was looking forward to more frequent bus services running between Tai O and Tung Chung.
'On Sundays, people could wait up to an hour for the bus. Few would choose the ferry from Tuen Mun because it's so far,' Mr Lai said.
He hoped the planned facelift for the village would bring in more visitors and boost his business.
His neighbour Mr Choi, who has a grocery store, agreed road transport should be improved. He said he had to take the slow ferry route to hospital to be treated for his diabetes when road access to the village was cut by a landslide last year.
In the government revitalisation plan, priority will be given to provision of a parking area for buses and new jetties, improvement of existing roads, repaving and landscaping of the bus terminus, which would become an entrance plaza, and construction of a riverwall to prevent flooding. Construction will start next year and end in 2013.
Other proposals include a folk museum in stilted houses over water, a salt-pan demonstration area, a youth hostel to be built in a disused public housing block, and the revival of hand-pulled ferry boats between various parts of the village.
Joanne Crellin, who lives in Stanley, said she would want to see Tai O retain its fishing village character. 'The last thing I want to see is another Stanley,' she said. 'This place should be different from anywhere else in Hong Kong. Just don't overdevelop.'
She said she supported the plans to build walking trails to see more of Tai O's natural surroundings.
Akiyama Machiko, visiting Tai O for the first time, said she was charmed by the place. 'This is good enough,' she said. 'It doesn't need a big change or extra tourist spots.'
Joseph Tong Yat-yuk, a regular visitor to Tai O, said there was no need for a public piazza or a boardwalk through the mangroves.
