By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-04-03 13:09:43 | Updated at 2025-04-04 18:29:16
1 day ago
Experts have suggested that greater incentives are necessary to motivate developers to invest in and promote ecological sites in South Lantau, following the Hong Kong government’s plan to designate the area as one of three new tourism-cum-residential development locations.
Their comments followed the Development Bureau’s announcement on Wednesday, inviting investors to submit expressions of interest for ecotourism development proposals for the quarry site on Lamma Island, which could be transformed into a marina for super yachts, as well as for the South Lantau Eco-Recreation Corridor, and Pak Nai and Tsim Bei Tsui in the Northern Metropolis.
The government intends to use large-scale land disposal for these three sites, a new scheme that requires developers to conduct site formation works and construct public facilities for the government, while retaining private residential sites for profit.
Francis Lam Ka-fai, former president of the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, said that the plan necessitates investors to build infrastructure, including roads, which would significantly impact their profitability.
“The government may consider providing basic infrastructure to enhance the project’s financial viability” he said.
He said that profits from tourism projects were inherently unstable and influenced by various factors such as visitor numbers.
