Hong Kong plans 37 priority farmland areas but critics say some good sites left out
Environment and Ecology Bureau says it has identified 37 agricultural priority areas comprising around 980 hectares of land
Authorities plan to designate 37 priority sites for agriculture that are mainly located in northern Hong Kong, although critics have accused the government of eradicating good-quality farmland that falls under new development areas.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau revealed in a legislative paper on Wednesday that it had identified 37 agricultural priority areas involving around 980 hectares of land after the idea was first raised eight years ago.
Of these, 760 hectares are earmarked for farming uses while the rest are existing access roads and ancillary agricultural facilities.
“The government will not propose or undertake non-agricultural development on government land in agricultural priority areas as a usual practice,” a spokesman said.
The proposed priority areas are mainly in North district, Yuen Long and Tai Po.
The spokesman added that the government would normally not object to any planning applications for non-agricultural use of farmland outside the priority areas.
