The public needs more information if they are to be convinced of an urgent need for reclamation - an option that has proven to be a tough sell for planners and environmentalists, a university professor says.
Chau Kwong-wing, from the University of Hong Kong's department of real estate and construction, said citizens should be given all the facts and possible solutions to the crisis to be able to make an informed decision on options laid out by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.
'Reclamation may not be a bad choice given the lack of infrastructure in the New Territories,' Chau said. 'But the public is hardly going to be convinced if they are not informed of the pros and cons of all [the] options.'
Tsang has outlined six ways to boost the city's land supply to ease the housing crunch, including reclamation and moving infrastructure to 'rock caverns' - new commercial or public spaces - to free up space in developed areas. Another option is to rezone industrial, agricultural and green belt areas, along with underutilised government land.
Chau said each option carried specific costs, risks and environmental impacts. 'If the public is informed of the high opportunity cost involved, they may be less resistant to reclaiming sites [where the impact on marine life] would be lower,' he said.
The public consultation on added reclamation projects and using rock caverns to house anything from sewage plants to restaurants is due to end next month.