Hong Kong Golf Club turns to court in bid to block government housing plan at oldest course
- Club seeking judicial review of government’s approval of environmental impact assessment report that paves way for construction
- While Development Bureau insists it will move forward, two planning experts caution a court win could delay project for two years
The Hong Kong Golf Club is trying to take the government to court to stop it from building public housing on part of its oldest course, seeking a judicial review of authorities’ approval of an environmental impact assessment report that green-lights construction.
But the government was adamant the club’s latest manoeuvre would not stop plans to take back the 32-hectare (79 acres) site in September, with a Development Bureau spokesman on Friday saying the Town Planning Board would continue to process the proposal.
In its application for the judicial review, the club is hoping to convince the court that the impact assessment is fundamentally flawed.
“The judicial review application, which predominantly challenges the errors and non-compliances of the [environmental impact assessment] process undertaken for the study, is intended to underscore the importance of procedural justice and public participation,” it said, referring to the feasibility study of the redevelopment plan.
Given legal proceedings had begun, the club said it would not be appropriate to comment further.
