The public can be forgiven for scratching their heads when it comes to the controversy over the government’s plan to take back a small portion of land leased by the Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling, which will be converted to a public housing estate comprising thousands of flats, plus conservation and recreation areas. The area in question, 32 hectares, amounts to less than 20 per cent of a total area of 172 hectares. It leaves intact more than two entire golf courses. Neutral observers are not the only ones who do not relate easily to claims that the plan could cost the city the rights to host prestigious golf tournaments.

The government seems neither convinced by the claims nor persuaded to reconsider by the advocacy of high-profile opponents of the scheme, having made clear its intention to press on. Undeterred, opponents have put up more arguments. Former commerce minister and MTR chairman Fred Ma Si-hang points to transport and congestion issues and says the plan puts at risk the city’s status as an international financial hub and networking centre for business titans. Mission Hills hospitality and leisure group chief Ken Chu claims the housing shortage targeted by the plan will ultimately be addressed by huge developments on the drawing board, such as the Lantau Tomorrow Vision of a new urban centre built on artificial islands and the Northern Metropolis IT centre. Opponents also point to a population decline and a fall from 5.5 years to 5.3 years in the wait for public housing as reasons to reconsider the plan.

Hong Kong golf course in Fanling should become public facility: ex-top official

Perhaps Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has addressed the obvious question – how could the plan have such far-reaching consequences for the sport and for Hong Kong, out of all proportion to the amount of land involved? After all, as Lee claims, the city will still have the capacity to hold international tournaments. The club would be left with two 18-hole golf courses, plus 10 holes of a third course.