Lantau a development priority

October 10, 2018

VOICEOVER: 
The Chief Executive outlined the Government’s vision for the development of Lantau in her Policy Address today.

As part of Lantau Tomorrow Vision, the Government will immediately begin a study on phased reclamation near Kau Yi Chau and Hei Ling Chau for the construction of artificial islands with a total area of about 1,700 hectares.

The land reserve to be provided by reclamation could be planned for building 
260,000 to 400,000 residential units. These units, with 70% being public housing, could accommodate a population of 700,000 to 1.1 million.

The Government anticipates the first batch of residential units could be available for intake in 2032. 

The government will develop a new set of transport networks connecting various development areas, including the construction of a new major transport corridor to link up the coastal areas of Tuen Mun, North Lantau, the artificial islands in the Central Waters and the traditional business centre in Hong Kong Island North with roads and railways, and take forward works for a highway parallel to the North Lantau Highway and the Lung Mun Road improvement. 

This new transport corridor will shorten the travelling distance between Chek Lap Kok airport and Hong Kong Island, while strengthening Lantau’s role as a “Double Gateway” to the world and other Greater Bay Area cities.

A $1 billion Lantau Conservation Fund will be set up to promote and implement conservation of rural Lantau, and to pursue livelihood improvement works in remote villages and communities. 

Mrs Lam noted the Lantau Tomorrow Vision involves the overall planning and implementation of a number of major infrastructure projects in the coming decades, and requires the efforts of various bureaus, government departments and non-governmental organisations. 

A dedicated co-ordination office will also be set up to steer the overall direction as well as co-ordinate and monitor the planning and implementation of the programme.

The Chief Executive outlined the Government’s vision for the development of Lantau in her Policy Address today.

Mrs Lam noted with the commissioning of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the transport connectivity between Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area will be further improved, making Lantau a “Double Gateway” to the world and other Greater Bay Area cities.

The Government will launch a new Lantau Tomorrow Vision, and realise this vision through five policy directions and investments:

Unleash land potential, increase land supply and develop a liveable near carbon-neutral city;

Accord priority to transport infrastructure;

Develop an Aerotropolis and the third Core Business District for Hong Kong, after Central and Kowloon East;

Enhance environmental capacity for sustainable development, including setting up a $1 billion Lantau Conservation Fund; and

Increase leisure and entertainment facilities to promote a healthy lifestyle.

As part of this development blueprint, the Government will immediately begin a study on phased reclamation near Kau Yi Chau and Hei Ling Chau for the construction of artificial islands with a total area of about 1,700 hectares. The study and design work will begin shortly with the aim of commencing the first phase of reclamation in 2025.

The land reserve to be provided by reclamation could be planned for building

260,000 to 400,000 residential units. These units, with 70% being public housing, could accommodate a population of 700,000 to 1.1 million, and create 340,000 jobs for the coming 20 to 30 years.

The Government anticipates the first batch of residential units could be available for intake in 2032.

She added the Lantau Tomorrow Vision is a priority area of the current-term Government and she will set up as soon as possible a dedicated co-ordination office, which is directly accountable to the Chief Executive, to steer the overall direction as well as co-ordinate and monitor the planning and implementation of the programme.

This office will be expanded as needed to ensure that the policy and implementation could be effectively matched.