NewGovernment seeks HK$227m to explore building artificial islands in Hong Kong’s central waters
Massive reclamation projects would take pressure off scarce land resources
The government is seeking HK$226.9 million to study the feasibility of building artificial islands in the central waters of Hong Kong.
The study into the massive reclamation projects will “ascertain the preliminary engineering feasibility and evaluate environmental implications of the artificial islands”, according to a submission to the development panel of the legislature.
The boundary of the study area covers almost the entire central waters of Hong Kong, stretching from northern Tsing Yi in the north to the city’s sea border in the south, and the waters between Hong Kong Island in the east and Lantau Island in the west.
The Civil Engineering and Development Department said the scope of the study will also include the impact on port operations, marine traffic and safety. It will also examine the affect on fisheries, strategic environmental assessment and site investigation works.
A consultant will be appointed to lead the study from July for completion in July 2017.
The artificial islands plan is in additions to the proposed Lantau East Metropolis – a new population and core business district on reclaimed land – proposed by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in his policy address in January.