Lantau news

Lantau is surely one of the loveliest islands in China; yet it is threatened by a slew of potential projects, including a logistics "park", a huge bridge, various reclamations (all included in a Concept Plan for Lantau), as well as a container terminal on an artificial isiand, and an LNG terminal on the nearby Soko Islands.

Here are two maps - highlighting the beauty of Lantau Island today, and the potential projects - along with links to more info, including on great places to visit.
They were produced with support from Civic Exchange, info from Green Lantau Association; maps by KC Holiday; design by Martin Williams, who also provided photos, as did Paul Melsom, Alan Leung, Jenny Quinton and Clive Noffke.

On Wednesday 19 October, I joined a small group of people from Lantau (all but one from Tung Chung; finding I'm from Cheung Chau, Selina C remarked, "So you're a greenie") for a meeting with Selina Chow - Legislative Councillor for New Territories West (inc Lantau), Executive Councillor, Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board etc etc.

Lasted just an hour; but managed to cover a fair bit of ground. Mostly in Cantonese, but some English too (for me - my Canto v limited, once need vocabulary beyond some v bad words). Ms Chow had much to say, tho there was dialogue, chance for those attending to expound various views, inc Tung Chung, Lantau as a whole, tourism.

Way back at the beginning of March, 19 groups including Hong Kong Outdoors showed what the South China Morning Post described as (from memory) "a rare show of unity", to produce a Joint Statement on Sustainable Development for Lantau.

The statement was dated 3 March. That was also the same date given for a Hong Kong government rejection of the joint statement that was promptly published on the government website. Not surprisingly, this rejection was vague, failing to address points made in the statement.

It's now mid-June; we're told plans for at least the Zhuhai-Macau-Hong Kong Bridge (which was in the Concept Plan) are well advanced, yet so far as I'm aware there has been no further dialogue between government and groups concerned about Lantau developments. Some group representatives are set to attend a Legco panel meeting on the Concept Plan for Lantau; this was to be In May, then in June, but lately shifted back to July - this as the bridge works is reportedly set to begin early next year (never mind the EIA work in Hong Kong is incomplete, no substantial arguments have been mustered for building the bridge).

With the dialogue in limbo, yet plans evidently proceeding apace - and never mind what the public might think - I'm presenting the joint statement here, along with

Happily, it seems that some sense has filtered through to the powers that be, and maybe native trees will be planted instead.

From horticulturalist and Lantau resident Paul Melsom, re plans for widespread planting of non-native trees on Lantau (hope you'll forgive the tabloid headline - I couldn't resist, Martin).

Another Bomb shell to hit Lanatu Island is the planting of 2 million  non native trees around Pennys Bay and Silver Mine bay by the Civil Engineeering Development Department CEDD and 100,000 Wedelia trilobata ground cover which is already invasive in the Pacific Islands.

Here are comments on the Concept Plan for Lantau (or "Concrete Plan for Lantau"?), which I have submitted to the Lantau Development Task Force. (Didn't include this image.)