Consortium again loses bid to build on Nam Sang Wai wetland

A development consortium's plan to build flats on the controversial Nam Sang Wai wetland in Yuen Long has again failed to get past the government's town planning advisers.

The proposal did not meet the planning principles of not losing any wetland to the development and of minimal filling of fish ponds in Deep Bay, the Town Planning Board said yesterday.

"They also failed to provide sufficient evidence that their mitigation plans could achieve ecological enhancement as they claim," a spokeswoman for the board said.

The consortium, a joint venture between Nam Sang Wai Development and Kleener Investment, had sought a review of its revised development plan after the board dismissed it last year.

With the latest rejection, it is still too early to tell if the 120 hectares of wetland will be safe from development, as the consortium has room to bring its case to the Town Planning Appeal Board, which comprises members outside the board, or to seek a further review directly from the courts.

"It is well known that the developer loves to argue about procedural matters in court," said Roy Ng Hei-man, a campaigner from green group Conservancy Association.