I refer to 'Does Hong Kong still need a superjail?' (South China Morning Post, May 21), which suggests that opposition to the proposed mega-jail project at Hei Ling Chau from green groups and residents of neighbouring areas contains some measure of the 'not in my backyard' syndrome.
This is manifestly not the case, as a glance at any map of Hong Kong will demonstrate. The proposed mega-jail will in fact be in everybody's front yard, clearly visible and in direct line of sight from numerous vantage points, including The Peak, Lamma Island, West Kowloon, Tsing Yi, Eastern Lantau, Discovery Bay, Peng Chau, Mui Wo, Cheung Chau, numerous hiking trails and from every passing ferry to and from the outlying islands and Macau.
The proposed location could not be more visible, bang in the middle of a major tourist 'spine' - it is even in the 'face' of Hong Kong's famous sunsets.
The issue has opened up a lot of inter-related environmental issues such as land planning, sustainable development, potential loss to tourism and eco-tourism alternatives. Yet it seems in this case that the government is focused only on the issue of the prison itself. Such blinkered views can seriously damage Hong Kong.
It is also astonishing, even scandalous, that both the Tourism Commission and the Hong Kong Tourism Board have declared they have no position on this issue. Hei Ling Chau and Sunshine Islands are beautiful natural resources that should be used to boost our flagging tourist industry, but which government department will now stand up to protect them?
It is estimated that the Hong Kong tourist industry and related businesses stand to lose 42,000 jobs and $28 billion in revenue as a result of the Sars outbreak. Yet the Sars outbreak has one silver lining - Hong Kong residents and local tourists have re-discovered the joys and beauty of the outlying islands.
The government should focus on developing tourism for Hei Ling Chau and the outlying islands, spending the $12 billion where it will generate growth in local tourist industries.