Hong Kong doesn’t need another public golf course, development chief says, shooting down latest attempt to stop housing plan on Fanling site

Bernadette Linn says ‘no urgent need for new public golf course’, with authorities determined to press ahead with plan to build public flats on part of Fanling site

Hong Kong Golf Club announces application for Unesco Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage, says it must maintain course to ‘international standards’

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Hong Kong’s development chief has reiterated the government’s commitment to building public flats on part of the Old Course. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 7:03pm, 5 Jul 2023Updated: 8:46pm, 5 Jul 2023

Hong Kong’s development chief has rejected a proposal to fully open part of the city’s oldest golf course in Fanling to the public rather than build flats there, stressing the government’s commitment to the housing project.

The exclusive Hong Kong Golf Club, which leases 172 hectares of land in Fanling from authorities, also made a separate attempt on Wednesday to prevent a section of the Old Course from being used for housing by applying for an international award that recognises efforts to preserve cultural heritage sites.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho stressed the administration would not back down on its plan to build public housing on a section of the private golf course.

“This is not the only piece of land to promote golf. Hong Kong has golf courses in Kau Sai Chau, Deep Water Bay and Clear Water Bay,” she said. “The government believes there is no urgent need for a new public golf course.”

She was responding to a question by legislator Michael Tien Puk-sun, who asked if the government had looked at using the section of the course set aside for housing “to benefit the general public”.