Hong Kong cable car operator worried about Tai O extension warning former fishing village will become overcrowded
The operator of the Ngong Ping cable car has expressed concern over a proposal to extend the route to Tai O, warning that the former fishing village could become overcrowded amid the government's efforts to boost tourism and other economic activities on Lantau Island.
The 5.7km cable car system, opened in 2006, takes passengers between Tung Chung and the tourist attraction of Ngong Ping .
Last year, the Development Bureau announced a study on the possibility of extending it to Tai O as part of its wider plans to develop Lantau Island. The study is expected to be completed by early next year.
Stella Kwan Mun-yee, managing director of cable car operator Ngong Ping 360, said it was not her company's idea and it had no role to play in the proposal at this stage.
Although she said the company held a neutral position on the proposal, she raised concern over possible congestion brought to Tai O by such a plan.
"We understand that the government has appointed a consultant to study the feasibility of the extension … We haven't formed a view yet. It will be quite a complicated issue in terms of alignment and technology," she said.
"Whatever the government proposes, it is important that they have enough infrastructure and facilities to receive them at the Tai O end. Right now it's already quite crowded … At the end of the day, we don't want to affect the heritage and cultural side of the village too much."
Kwan said the company had also not yet studied whether such an extension would be profitable.
Tai O resident Wong Wai-king, who runs a privately owned heritage museum in the village, said she feared that the cable car would damage the natural environment of Tai O if it was extended there.
"It will certainly disturb the landscape of the green hills," she said.
Together with the Transport Department's proposal to allow more vehicles to use the restricted South Lantau Road, she said such developments would further urbanise Tai O at the expense of its rural characteristics. "If Tai O becomes like a theme park, will tourists still want to come?" she asked.
Fanny W. Y. Fung