Lantau Tomorrow Vision project met with backlash as concerns about its cost and environmental impact are raised
A presentation slide is shown during the Our Hong Kong Foundation press conference on the proposed East Lantau Metropolis project, on August 7, 2018.Context
The Lantau Tomorrow Vision is a plan to create 1,700 hectares of artificial islands for a new housing and economic hub in waters east of Lantau. According to the Sustainable Lantau Office, the new town will accommodate about 260,000 to 400,000 housing units, of which 70 per cent will be public housing.
It will also be equipped with infrastructure to reinforce Lantau’s role as a “Double Gateway” to the world and Greater Bay Area.
The Lantau Tomorrow Vision has met with backlash and two of the biggest concerns are its environmental impact and its astronomical cost. Opposition parties also expressed concern about cost overruns, which have plagued major infrastructure projects in recent years.
Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun also dismissed concerns about the artificial islands not being able to withstand the impact of climate change, saying the land formed be of the same quality as Hong Kong International Airport, which sits on an artificial island.
Land reclamation could result in an uncertain future for Hong Kong
He added there would be no more consultations about whether the reclamation project should go ahead, because the task force had already taken public feedback into account. The development panel in the city’s legislature, the Legislative Council, will discuss a proposed funding request for HK$550 million to conduct feasibility studies on the project.
The government said it planned to seek funding approval from Legco’s Finance Committee in the second or third quarter of the year after consulting the public works subcommittee. The request is likely to pass as the major pro-establishment parties in control of Legco all support the project.
Edited by Jamie Lam