“[Preliminary] technical assessments on ecology, environment, traffic and infrastructure were carried out to confirm that the proposals will not have adverse impacts on South Lantau,” the bureau said in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council.

The government added that it would conduct detailed technical assessments as it took forward individual projects.

Cheung Sha, where Hong Kong’s longest beach is located, will become the recreational hub of South Lantau with accommodation, such as beach campsites, under the government proposal.

The 2km (1.24 mile) beach in Lower Cheung Sha will feature a new water sports and recreation centre and a barrier-free walkway. More catering and water sports rental facilities are also expected to be stationed in the area.

Hillside in Upper Cheung Sha will be developed into an “adventure” holiday area, offering rope adventures, uphill chairlifts and accommodation.

Shek Pik village will include a heritage trail along the city’s third-largest reservoir to showcase the history of the settlement’s relocation so the massive water catchment site can be built.

The existing catchwater channel will be widened to feature artistic installations designed to blend in with the environment.

Shui Hau, which has a rare natural sandflat landscape and is an important breeding ground for endangered Chinese horseshoe crabs, will have an education centre to teach the public about ecology and rural culture.

The government also suggested the construction of a walkway along the shore of the sandflat, which shows the natural landscape of the land-to-marine transition, to avoid visitors walking on it.

Pui O will be developed to feature a walkway and glamping sites to educate the public on biodiversity and ecology.

The bureau also suggested boosting public transport and the introduction of ferry services by building a pier at Cheung Sha, as well as considering crowd-control measures, such as an online reservation scheme, to ensure a good travelling experience without damage to the environment.

The administration said it expected an extra 4,000 to 6,000 visitors would travel to South Lantau every day during holiday periods after the work was completed.

An average of about 2,700 people visited the four areas every day during holiday periods in 2022.

The government said it had explored a variety of approaches to implement its South Lantau proposal, such as inviting the private sector’s participation. It added that some operators with the right experience had expressed an interest.

“This will not only introduce market creativity and resources, but also reduce the government’s financial burden,” the bureau said.

“[We] will continue to liaise with the potential private developers or investors and further consider different approaches and their financial viability with a view to formulating suitable implementation plans for the proposals.”

But Roy Ng Hei-man, campaign officer for the Conservancy Association, said he had reservations about the development of South Lantau.

He noted that Pui O and Shui Hau were confirmed to have high ecological value in an earlier government study.

Ng added he was particularly concerned about the sandflat walkway at Pui O, whose construction could affect the hydrology of the area and damage its ecology.

Ng said campsites were quite common in South Lantau but their operators were often accused of unauthorised landfilling and poor sewage treatment that damaged the environment.

He also appealed to authorities to provide details or even set no-go areas as they developed campsites and accommodation.

“During the consultation, the government should provide details on facilities required, basic principles of site formation work and mitigation measures,” Ng said.

“They should not wait until the next stage of development, or else it fails to tackle the problem.”

Ng added he expected the Cheung Sha ferry service would pass through waters off South Lantau, where finless porpoises were often spotted, and raised concerns about how the marine ecosystem might be affected.

But executive director Timothy Chui Ting-pong of the Hong Kong Tourism Association said he was confident that the government could strike a balance between development and conservation.

He added that the city needed new attractions and could use its advantages of natural scenery to lure tourists and retain Hongkongers for local consumption.