Opponents of land reclamation ‘do not represent Hong Kong’, property tycoon Gordon Wu says

Founder of major local developer says city’s future is bleak if government keeps acquiescing to ‘minority opinion’

Organiser of march against chief executive’s plan to build artificial islands counters that scepticism runs deep

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Gordon Wu is founder and chairman of Hopewell Holdings, a property developer. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 4:00pm, 28 Oct 2018Updated: 10:54pm, 28 Oct 2018

The collective voice of thousands of residents who marched to oppose a controversial multibillion-dollar reclamation project earlier this month “do not represent Hong Kong”, an outspoken property tycoon said on Sunday.

And if the government kept acquiescing to “minority” opposition, the city’s future would be destined to decline, according to Gordon Wu Ying-sheung, founder and chairman of Hopewell Holdings, a major developer.

A family marching on October 14 against Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s proposal to build artificial islands to address housing needs in the city. Photo: Edmond So

“In Hong Kong, the silent majority never say anything,” Wu said on a TVB programme on Sunday, shrugging off the October 14 rally’s larger than expected turnout. Organisers did not have a tally, but police put the figure at 5,800.

“Can a few thousand people represent all of Hong Kong? Can some granny in Cheung Chau who believes it is environmentally damaging claim to be an expert on environmental protection?”

Can some granny in Cheung Chau who believes it is environmentally damaging claim to be an expert on environmental protection?

Gordon Wu, property tycoon

Wu said the city’s biggest “challenge” was “learning to be democratic”, adding that many people believed that just because they had a right to be consulted, they had a right to veto or stop a project.