Proposed artificial island near Lantau in Hong Kong could suffer same fate as Jebi-hit Osaka airport, green groups warn
Value of costly project questioned amid fears over an uncertain future with climate change and increasingly unpredictable weather
The warning came as a public consultation on how to boost land supply, conducted by a government-appointed task force, was under way and set to end on September 26. Eighteen options have been put up for discussion, including building a 1,000-hectare (2,500 acres) island east of Lantau Island.
Leung Wing-mo, former assistant director of the Hong Kong Observatory, said the sea level in Hong Kong was forecast to rise by more than 1 metre from 2000 levels by the end of this century.
The weather in Hong Kong had also become more “extreme” in recent years and the government should consider the possibility of the proposed island being flooded, as in the case of Kansai International Airport, Leung said. He is now a spokesman for climate advocacy group 350HK.
“[Japan] did not plan thoroughly before the airport was built. The consequences can be dire if [the Hong Kong government] also fails to consider all scenarios in building the artificial island,” Leung said.
[Japan] did not plan thoroughly ... The consequences can be dire if [Hong Kong] also fails to consider all scenarios
Typhoon Jebi tore across southwest Japan on Tuesday, forcing the Osaka airport – Japan’s third busiest – to shut down. Strong winds also sent a 2,591-tonne tanker smashing into the only bridge connecting the airport to the mainland. Runways were inundated, causing hundreds of flight cancellations.
On Wednesday, rescuers began to evacuate thousands of travellers stranded at the airport. As of Wednesday evening, Japan recorded 11 deaths and hundreds of injuries caused by the typhoon.