The Housing, Planning & Lands Bureau has rejected a joint statement issued by several environmental groups on the sustainable development of Lantau Island.

The bureau today reiterated the Concept Plan for Lantau aims to provide a coherent planning framework to meet a diversity of land use needs. The Government has adopted a balanced and sustainable planning approach integrating both development and conservation needs.

It said the proposals in the plan will contribute positively to the development of Hong Kong, creating more employment, investment and business opportunities. With due emphasis on nature conservation, the plan will also help protect Lantau's natural environment and maintain Hong Kong's bio-diversity.

Several proposals have emanated from other studies on Lantau which have undergone substantive consultation. The latest planning circumstances, aspirations of the local community, locational advantages and development constraints of Lantau and other relevant factors have been fully taken into account in formulating the broad land use pattern.

Public, expert consultation

The Government has conducted over 30 meetings with statutory and advisory bodies, community organisations, professional institutes and other relevant stakeholders. The community has enthusiastically responded to the proposals and given valuable comments and suggestions.

Proposals taken forward will be subject to detailed study to establish their feasibility, including their environmental acceptability.

On conservation, the need to conserve a high-quality natural landscape, ecological habitats and cultural heritage sites has been a priority planning consideration in formulating the Concept Plan. Conservation is one of the major themes and the plan has set out proposals to meet such needs. The Government will continue to strengthen the protection of sites of conservation value.

For the logistics park on Lantau, the Government has invited views from the industry and interested parties on operational characteristics and planning parameters to ensure the park, when developed, will meet the practical needs of the industry and enhance Hong Kong's logistics competitiveness.

For Container Terminal 10, no decision has been made on its location yet. The Study on Hong Kong Port Master Plan 2020 has identified two possible locations, namely Northwest Lantau and Southwest Tsing Yi. Studies will be conducted to assess their environmental suitability and other factors.