Why Singapore thinks dykes could be answer on reclamation – and how Hong Kong can benefit after severe shortage of sand

National development minister Lawrence Wong says Singapore is looking at new ways of doing reclamation

Reclamation work for Hong Kong’s third runway delayed for four months after sand supplies from mainland China dried up

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A lack of sand supplies for reclamation has hindered work in Hong Kong. Photo: Martin Chan

Published: 11:02pm, 17 May 2019Updated: 1:02pm, 18 May 2019

Singapore is testing a method that can almost halve the use of sand in reclamation projects, the country’s development minister says, in a timely piece of information for Hong Kong, which is facing a severe shortage of the material.

The city state was experimenting with reclaiming low-lying land protected by dykes, which could cut sand consumption by 40 per cent, national development minister Lawrence Wong told an event in Hong Kong on Friday.

“Reclamation is a massive endeavour. It’s costly … and we have to do it carefully to minimise any environmental impact,” said Wong, who is also second minister for finance. “We are looking at new ways of doing reclamation.”

Hong Kong’s latest reclamation project, a third runway for its international airport, has been delayed by more than four months by a lack of sand supplies from mainland China.

Singapore frees up valuable space by reclaiming land and relocating facilities there. Photo: Shutterstock

However, there were signs on Thursday the delay could be coming to an end as Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced neighbouring provinces would resume supplies of the fill material.