The landowner and developer of the ecologically-sensitive Nam Sang Wai wetland have proposed cutting the total number of houses and flats they will build on the site in half, as well as establishing a nature reserve and a community park.
Under the latest proposal submitted to the government yesterday, between 1,200 and 1,500 homes are being planned for the popular wetland in Yuen Long, compared with 2,550 under a previous plan.
Total residential-related development will be reduced from 98 to 50 hectares, with the removal of a 43-hectare golf course. However, the total boundary of the revised plan will cover a much larger area - about 176 hectares of government and private land because of the new ecological features.
These include a 56-hectare nature reserve at Lut Chau, north of Nam Sang Wai which will be separated by the Kam Tin River.
Wan Man-yee, a consultant to the project, admitted the key battleground was winning public understanding and support for the revised project.
'The major problem is not about ecology, but getting a chance to convey our message to the public and getting their understanding,' he said, adding that a website providing information on the site's history and the proposal would be launched this week.
