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Kenneth Ko

The South West New Territories (SWNT), mainly Lantau and other outlying islands, have been designated for a mix of developments, with particular emphasis on strengthening tourist attractions and fulfilling a range of recreation and leisure needs.

 Public and private housing developments will form a significant part of works in the new towns on north Lantau.

 And the proposed Disneyland theme park is set to be a leading tourist feature in Penny's Bay on northeast Lantau.

 These are some of the highlights of the Planning Department's newly published SWNT draft recommended strategy intended to provide a broad land use-environment-transport plan to guide the development of the region.

 The strategy allows for a total planned residential population for the SWNT region of about 493,000 by 2011. About 70 per cent, or a maximum of 335,000 people, are to be accommodated in the new towns of Tung Chung and Tai Ho on north Lantau.

 Apart from providing for housing development, it strives to capitalise on tourist and recreation opportunities, which will form the main economic thrust of the region.

 Four tourism/recreational nodes, namely northeast Lantau, northwest Lantau, south Lantau and the Soko Islands, are proposed.

 With its strategic gateway location, efficient transport infrastructure and extensive greenfield sites, the Planning Department strategy says northeast Lantau has enormous potential to provide tourism and recreational facilities.

 Northeast Lantau extends from Tai Ho Wan to Kwai Shek, Tsing Chau Tsai and the proposed Penny's Bay reclamation area.

 In addition to the proposed Disneyland in Penny's Bay, complementary tourist and recreation facilities including a theme-park gateway, techno-drome, tourist and convention village can also be provided at Yam O, according to the strategy.

 There are also current proposals for a theme park at Ma Wan. The strategy notes that these facilities will greatly enhance Hong Kong's role as a leading tourist destination.

 The mountains and attractive coastal areas of northwest Lantau including Tung Chung-Ngong Ping-Tai O have great potential to be developed into a cultural and leisure centre, it says.

 Meanwhile, the proposed cable-car connection between Tung Chung and Ngong Ping could also open up neighbouring areas for tourist facilities. These could possibly include a golf course at Tung Chung and resort-style hotels at Ngong Ping, as well as scenic trails, a maritime museum, outdoor seafood restaurants and cafes at Tai O.

 South Lantau, famous for its beautiful beaches at Mui Wo, Pui O, Cheung Sha and Tong Fuk, is intended to be conserved mainly for water-based recreation and low-intensity recreational uses.

 Tai A Chau and Siu A Chau, the two largest of Soko Islands, also offer great potential for the development of a quality holiday resort, according to the strategy.

 Coastal waters off southwest Lantau, the Soko Islands and south Lamma are identified as potential marine parks and reserves.

 The strategy has also retained the proposed reclamation sites at Kau Yi Chau for container-terminal development as a long-term proposal.

 Improvements in external connections are vital to the SWNT development. There are several possible long-term transport links under preliminary consideration - including the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link and the Outer Western Corridor Rail Link beyond 2011, which will meet airport-related and cross-boundary traffic needs as well as the long-term development of the sub-region.

 The implementation of these external links would enhance the accessibility of Lantau Island and possibly open up further development opportunities, particularly along north Lantau.

 For north Lantau, the enhanced Road P1 will form an essential transport link for the new towns and further development.

 And a tunnel link between north Lantau and Discovery Bay is now being built.

 All outlying islands apart from Lantau still have to rely heavily on ferry and kaido services for external links. The existing level of ferry services is one of the major constraints in further development of the islands.

 The Planning Department is conducting a public consultation exercise on the strategy. A public forum is to be held on September 14 to solicit views from interested parties.

plan25gwz 



Government unveils plans for new towns and recreational facilities on islands