Hong Kong public not fully informed about damage eco-recreation area would bring: green groups
- Government plan to draw more tourists to South Lantau will threaten buffalo and dolphins while bringing little economic benefit, they say
Hong Kong green groups have urged authorities to conduct more in-depth ecological studies of a government plan to turn part of South Lantau into an “eco-recreation corridor”, days before a public consultation for the proposal wrapped up.
The environmental groups said on Wednesday that the development would threaten dolphin habitats and expose a herd of roughly 100 buffalo to tourists.
They stressed residents needed more information so they could make informed choices when offering input about the development.
The government earlier this year proposed converting four rural areas on Lantau into a site offering “ecologically and naturally based sustainable” recreation, as well as educational resources and programmes. The two-month public consultation ends on Sunday.
Save Lantau Alliance convenor Eddie Tse Sai-kit said: “The plan suggested by the government lacks substance, as it did not fully provide detailed information about species found on South Lantau.”
As an example of the unreliability of the government information, South Lantau Buffalo Society chairwoman Jean Leung pointed to official figures that put the local population on South Lantau at more than 200, noting the number was inconsistent with the group’s own tally of a little over 100.
The Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society said about 34 of the mammals remained in local waters and warned the introduction of new ferry services to Cheung Sha under the proposal would threaten their habitat.
