New | Building in Lantau parks 'dangerous' idea, activists say

The idea that building in country parks on Lantau could actually improve the island’s environment is both “worrying” and “dangerous”, activists and green groups said on Monday.

This came after former executive councillor Franklin Lam Fan-keung risked public outcry on Sunday by floating the idea that allowing development in Lantau’s two country parks would upgrade the environment “millions of times” over.

Lam also questioned whether the country parks should remain entirely off limits to developers given that “the island’s marine environment was of greater value than its land”.

But the Save Our Country Parks Alliance on Monday said this was yet another sign the government was not being serious in its pledge to protect country parks and enclaves.

“We are worried about Lam’s words and the government’s view on future development across Hong Kong,” said Green Power’s head of scientific research and conservation Dr Cheng Luk-ki.

“They are making people choose between housing and conservation. It’s like seeing your mother and wife fall into the water and asking someone to choose who to save first.”

Lam, a government appointee to the Lantau Development Advisory Committee, said building homes for 300,000 people and creating jobs on Lantau would reduce residents’ carbon footprint by cutting their commute.