By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-03-15 10:21:41 | Updated at 2025-03-15 13:13:58
3 hours ago
Hong Kong environmentalists are worried that at least 29 species of birds might be threatened by the New Town project, going by early plans for the Northern Metropolis megaproject.
Wong Suet-mei, a senior conservation manager at the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, said the outlined plan for the New Territories North New Town, the largest project in the Northern Metropolis, might result in extensive loss of farmland.
“Farmland is an extremely important habitat for birds that rely on wetlands and open country habitats,” she said, referring to the area’s wide, open flatlands with herbs, climbers and shrubs.
The government’s Northern Metropolis blueprint aims to transform 30,000 hectares (74,130 acres) in the New Territories into a new economic growth centre and housing hub.
The New Town project involves about 1,175 hectares in Heung Yuen Wai, Ta Kwu Ling, Ping Che, Hung Lung Hang, Queen’s Hill, Man Kam To and Lo Wu South.
The government’s two-month public consultation on the New Town project concludes on Sunday.
