Discovery Bay Marina Club stands by evictions of boat owners and says renovation will make it world-class
Officials add that they have no plan to fill in and build on their Lantau Island property
A decades-old Hong Kong marina at the centre of an eviction row will be reborn as a world-class sailing and pleasure boating facility, according to officials at the club which runs it.
On Monday, the Discovery Bay Marina Club issued a statement laying out its legal right to clear the facility and its plans for its future, weeks after it told 200 boat-dwelling families to leave the marina they call home by December 31.
The club, owned by Hong Kong Resort Company, a principal subsidiary of HKR International (HKRI), said it had no plans to reclaim the Lantau Island marina for other purposes. It rejected persistent rumours that it planned to fill in and build on the marina, once it was closed.
“Specifically, there is no plan to landfill the marina as part of the renovations. The marina will reopen after renovation with a brand-new design, modern technology and more berths, and a new operation model will be implemented,” the statement read.
It added that the renovation would be “extensive and complex”, requiring the entire marina to close for the duration.
“The new marina is expected to meet the needs of Hong Kong’s growing sailing and pleasure boating community. Information on the new marina and operation model will be announced when they become available. Until then, members and the public are welcome to express their interest in future membership,” the statement read.