The Legislative Council of the Alliance for the Protection of Lantau petitioned that the government's blind promotion of "Lantau Tomorrow" is irrational

The Development Affairs Committee of the Legislative Council held a special meeting this afternoon (29th) to discuss the latest "Lantau Tomorrow" development project proposed by the government.

Representatives of many organizations petitioned outside the Legislative Council. Xie Shijie, the convener of the "Lantau Alliance", described the plan as a "white elephant on the sea" project, saying that the government was irrational and blindly pushing the plan. He reminded the public not to regard the plan as a foregone conclusion and must voices of dissent.

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In addition to Xie Shijie, the convener of the "Lantau Alliance", Li Weicai, the convener of "350 Hong Kong", and Feng Jinlin, the convener of the "Peng Chau Reclamation Concern Group", were also represented in the petition.

Xie Shijie said that the government initially proposed the "Lantau Tomorrow" artificial island plan to meet population growth and demand for commercial land, but the Census and Statistics Department will adjust the population projections in 2020. It is estimated that Hong Kong's population will peak at 8.11 million in 2041 and fall back to 2069 7.35 million. In addition to the "immigration wave" in recent years, the population is expected to continue to decline. Xie Shijie said bluntly: "I have lost planning rationality, and the population estimate is too high." He also pointed out that Kai Tak's commercial land has repeatedly lost bids, and he believes that the market is right The decrease in demand for commercial land directly denounced the Hong Kong government as "the reason is untenable".

▼December 20, the latest concept map of Tomorrow Lantau will be exposed▼

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Xie Shijie is even more worried that the reclamation plan will empty the reserves of the Hong Kong government, so that Hong Kong will eventually need to borrow money to survive the day.

He said that the cost of sand prices continues to rise, and Hong Kong will carry out a number of large-scale construction projects during the same period. With the huge increase in manpower and material demand, construction costs will only increase.

Coupled with the decline in the local economy during the epidemic, the government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on various anti-epidemic, epidemic prevention, and employment supplement measures, worrying that there will be a structural fiscal deficit.

Xie Shijie also reminded that the marine experts of the "Lantau Alliance" conducted diving observations in the waters of Kau Yi Chau in 2018 and found rare creatures; There are finless porpoises, a national first-class protected animal, infested in the waters.

He emphasized that Hong Kong needs to protect the ocean and not further destroy marine habitats.

"350 Hong Kong" Convener Li Weicai: Artificial islands are hard to withstand the impact of the storm

Li Weichai, the convener of "350 Hong Kong", pointed out that Ma On Shan, Sha Tin and Tai Po districts are all vulnerable to storm surges, and he believes that the challenges faced by giant artificial islands in the sea may be even greater.

He pointed out: "Once the traffic is paralyzed, hundreds of thousands of people may be trapped on the island." He called on the Hong Kong government to adopt a rigorous scientific attitude and face up to the potential crisis brought about by climate change on artificial islands.

In 2018, the government proposed the major development project of "Lantau Tomorrow", which involves reclaiming an artificial island around Kau Yi Chau in the central waters, with an area of ​​1,000 hectares.

The government recently proposed a new reclamation plan. Instead of two artificial islands, three islands A, B, and C will be reclaimed in the north, south, and west of Kau Yi Chau to open up a Y-shaped waterway. The total cost is 580 billion yuan. Calculated in 20 years, it is about 30 billion yuan per year.

Tomorrow’s Lantau｜The railway will not pass through Tuen Mun South Development Bureau: Next year, Tuen Mun East Station will be reserved for connection. Tomorrow’s Lantau｜The price of river sand has increased by 1.5 times in the past 5 years Lantau｜The Public Housing Federation advocates the construction of artificial islands for youth dormitories to facilitate the work of the core business district. Tomorrow Lantau｜The cost of land reclamation will increase to 580 billion : Not taking into account the value of public housing. Tomorrow’s Lantau development blueprint is exposed. It plans to issue bonds to finance artificial islands and sell land to earn 750 billion yuan. Lantau｜The starting point of the cross-sea railway will be changed to Hongshui Bridge instead of Tuen Mun. Nantian Beichen said he will die against Lantau Tomorrow｜The concept map of the three islands is exposed and it is expected to build up to 210,000 houses. The railway will be diverted to Hongshui Bridge Tomorrow Lantau｜The latest construction cost has risen to $5800 Billion government expects artificial islands to sell land for $750 billion to earn $580 billion