Given the Hong Kong government espouses a policy of “conservation in the south” of Lantau[1], and at the beginning of April 2025 a body called the Sustainable Lantau Office invited expressions of interest for “South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor”[2], you might expect this project fully embraces the principles of sustainability and eco-tourism.
To the United Nations, the latter is, “nature-based forms of tourism in which the main motivation of the tourists is the observation and appreciation of nature as well as the traditional cultures prevailing in natural areas … Generating economic benefits for host communities.”[3] Hence, there will of course be an emphasis on wildlife viewing, along with enhancements to natural habitats, and integration with local communities. Right?
Wrong! Even though Shui Hau and Pui O rank among Hong Kong’s top 20 sites for bird diversity[4], there is nothing about birdwatching in the “corridor”. Indeed, other than a proposed canopy walkway, the plan all but ignores plants and wildlife, and focuses on constructing buildings, piers, car parks and so forth to solely benefit humans. Ideas even include a chairlift linking places readily reached by bus, and a “luge” – surely not involving ice, but hurtling downhill on a sort of sled on wheels. Plus, of course, catering and retail facilities, “quality holiday accommodation” and more.[5]
Despite the “eco” in its name, the corridor does not involve the Agriculture, Fisheries and ConservationDepartment, but is the responsibility of the Civil Engineering and Development Department, which in 2017 established the Sustainable Lantau Office[6]. In August 2021, the office signed a consultancy agreement worth HK$11 million for an investigation study for Sustainable Leisure and Recreation Initiatives in Shek Pik and adjoining areas with Binnies Hong Kong[7] – which on Linkedin describes itself as “a multidisciplinary engineering consultant,” that has “played a significant role in developing tailored infrastructure solutions.”
Hence, the corridor plans indeed feature infrastructure solutions, which will in places require site formation works to maximise the area of flat land within the site3, along with substantial clearance of vegetation including trees, and work in areas zoned as green belt[8]. Numbers of visitors are projected to perhaps triple from around 2,700 per day during holidays3, even though this would further strain the bus main route through the corridor, requiring a substantial increase from 11,000 passengers during a busy day[9], when there are already long queues at bus stops.
Rather than seeking to dovetail with local communities, and support existing restaurants, shops and watersports facilities, the corridor plans aim for separate, new developments, and even specifically exclude village zones: there’s nothing about locals perhaps establishing homestays, nor giving places like Pui O a facelift.
As with many government projects, there was a public consultation regarding the corridor plans, when they were announced in May last year. Responses included a joint submission from ten green groups, noting they were, “gravely concerned about the objectives and environmental and ecological impacts of the Proposal, particularly loss of natural assets for ‘eco-recreation’, and pollution and habitat damages brought about by overloading of environmental capacity of South Lantau by increased road traffic and visitor facilities.”[10] Green groups might be expected to be experts on “eco” projects, and so with worthwhile views. Yet if any changes to the plans followed, you might need a microscope to find them.
While the corridor plans seem bold, it’s worth remembering that so too did the government’s Concept Plan for Lantau[11], which was first published in 2004 with a mishmash of zany, “anti-eco” ideas like a new theme park, a logistics centre, an indoor beach, and a golf course cum resort on very rough terrain – most of which have not been realised. Other grand suggestions have been floated before and since the concept plan – like cable cars connecting Peng Chau and Pui O[12], and a cable car or funicular to Sunset Peak[13], but have mostly come to nought.
And it’s here, perhaps, that hope for Lantau environment lies. The “eco-recreation corridor” is likewise an idea only at present; and given economic struggles, the substantial government budget deficit, and a shift in mainland China visitors towards low spenders[14], it may be tough to convince a developer to invest time and resources in the projects.
If the corridor plans flop, it does not mean the best way forward is simply leaving south Lantau in its present state. Ideally, it would be a good time to dust off plans in Carrie Lam’s 2017 policy speech for implementing rural conservation pilot projects in areas such as Tai O, Shui Hau and Pui O.[15] The latter, in particular, is crying out for active conservation measures, as the wetland grazed by feral water buffalo has suffered repeated small scale reclamations and other insults. Effective protection would be challenging, particularly as it requires managing habitats on private land, but would cost a fraction of the tens of billions of dollars the “corridor” could involve[16].
This is an opinion piece I wrote for the South China Morning Post; published as Where’s the ‘eco’ in South Lantau’s eco-recreation plan?
[1] https://www.lantau-da.com.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/20210915-A-Vision-for-Lantau.pdf
[2] https://www.lantau.gov.hk/filemanager/tc/content_111/The_Corridor_EOI%20Documents_(ENG)_02042025.pdf
[3] https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/ecotourism-and-protected-areas
[4] https://ebird.org/region/HK/hotspots
[5] https://www.lantau.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_111/The_Corridor_EOI%20Documents_(ENG)_02042025.pdf
[6] https://www.lantau.gov.hk/en/about-us/index.html
[7] https://www.lantau.gov.hk/en/whatsnew/index-id-79.html
[8] As seen from maps indicating where work is planned. See for instance https://www.lantau.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_111/EOI%20Briefing%20to%20Interested%20Party_the%20Corridor_final.pdf – proposed facilities page. Also green belt mentioned here: https://www.greenpower.org.hk/advocacy-and-consultation/20240718
[9] Tung Chung to Tai O bus mentioned in this; so too the conservation policy and reduced road traffic https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_925/TT_SC_1st_Meeting_Brief_Notes_(Eng).pdf
[10] https://www.greenpower.org.hk/advocacy-and-consultation/20240718
[11] https://www.hkoutdoors.com/lantau-sustainable-development-plan-html/
[12] south lantau history Pui_O_Shui_Hau-Study_Report-ENG.pdf
[13] https://www.cedd.gov.hk/filemanager/eng/content_961/15/Lantau_Recreation_ES-EN_v3.pdf
[14] https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/224201/Mainland-travelers%27-spending-remains-weak,-says-Simon-Wong
[15] https://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/jan2017/eng/p116.html
[16] https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1798669-20250402.htm?spTabChangeable=0