Ambitious plans for construction in north Lantau bring out voices of dissent
Plans for extensive construction in north Lantau to exploit the Zhuhai-Macau link is stirring dissent among residents and conservationists, writes Elaine Yau
The first phase of Tung Chung new town opened in late 1997, but it was 13 years before basic facilities such as a public library and sports centre were built for residents. So you might think Lam Yin-ying would welcome plans to further develop the township, created to accommodate people working at Chek Lap Kok airport in north Lantau.
But that’s not the case. Lam, a packing worker who lives in Yat Tung Estate with her three children, fears the proposal will lead to rent increases that will drive out neighbourhood shops serving residents in favour of retailers targeting mainland visitors. “The Yat Tung mall is still made up of neighbourhood shops, but I am afraid it will become a centre for mainland shoppers like Fu Tung estate plaza.”
We just want sustainable development which strikes a balance between conservation and economic growth
The nearby plaza, connected by a footbridge to Tung Chung MTR station and Citygate Outlets, is now primarily a cluster of cosmetic shops and pharmacies selling milk powder, and its furniture store has been replaced by an expensive beauty parlour, Lam says.
“We seldom leave the township as transport is very expensive, so for leisure activities I bring my children to Tung Chung River. The river will be affected by reclamation. Where can they play in future?”
Lam is among many residents in north Lantau alarmed by the government’s ambitious proposal to turn the area into a regional transport and economic hub, scrapping a 2007 concept plan put forward under then financial secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen.
The extension plan includes the construction of a 130-hectare island with malls and hotels east of Chek Lap Kok which would serve as the border checkpoint for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge, as well as a third runway at the airport. Other key components include major reclamation work at Sunny Bay (to turn the site into “an entertainment and business node”); at Siu Ho Wan (up to 150 hectares); at Tung Chung east (120 hectares) and Tung Chung west (14 hectares).
