The Tourism Commission is planning to provide a new public landing facility to facilitate visitors' access by sea to the seafood restaurants in Lei Yue Mun and the nearby attractions such as the Tin Hau Temple.

Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Stephen Ip told lawmakers the proposal is one of the improvement works being considered to enhance the tourist facilities in Lei Yue Mun's waterfront area.

Mr Ip said as the existing landing facility at Sam Ka Tsuen in Kwun Tong is located some distance away from the seafood restaurants, it has seldom been used by visitors or sight-seeing vessels.

The new landing facility needs to be able to accommodate sight-seeing vessels, convenient to visitors and near seafood restaurants and tourism attractions, he added. 

Marine safety top priority

As regards the proposed landing facility's impact on the fairway of Lei Yue Mun Channel, the Civil Engineering & Development Department in conjunction with the Marine Department have considered all factors carefully, the most important one being marine safety. 

The secretary noted the proposed site near the lighthouse is located outside the fairway of Lei Yue Mun Channel. It will not obstruct or affect the fairway, or reduce the fairway's navigational width. 

"On the contrary, to facilitate navigation and berthing of sight-seeing vessels, the construction works concerned will involve dredging in the foreshore and seabed area in the vicinity of the proposed landing facility, so that the navigational width in its vicinity will be extended by about 30 metres," he said. 

The proposed landing facility is a part of the entire Lei Yue Mun Waterfront enhancement project which is at a preliminary planning stage.

Proposal wins district council's support

Mr Ip said the proposal's framework has won the Kwun Tong District Council's support, adding the council agreed the most suitable location for constructing the proposed landing facility is to the east of the lighthouse. 

Relevant departments are looking into the proposal's technical feasibility, he added.

If the proposal is confirmed to be technically feasible, the Government will proceed with the detailed design, marine traffic impact assessment and public consultation.

Funding approval from the Legislative Council will be required for the project to proceed.