“[Preliminary] technical assessments on ecology, environment, traffic and infrastructure were carried out to confirm that the proposals will not have adverse impacts on South Lantau,” the bureau said in a paper submitted to the Legislative Council.
The government added that it would conduct detailed technical assessments as it took forward individual projects.
Under the government’s proposal, Cheung Sha, where Hong Kong’s longest beach is located, will become the recreational hub of South Lantau with accommodation, such as beach campsites.
The two-kilometre-long beach in Lower Cheung Sha will feature a new water sports and recreation centre and a barrier-free beach walkway. More catering and water sports rental facilities are expected to be stationed in the area.
Hillside in Upper Cheung Sha will be developed into an “adventure” holiday area, offering experiences of rope adventures, uphill chairlifts and accommodation.
Shek Pik will include a heritage trail along the city’s third largest reservoir to showcase the history of relocating the Shek Pik Village for building the water supply facility, while the existing catchwater channel will be widened to feature artistic installation blending in with the environment.
Shui Hau, which has an extremely rare natural sandflat landscape and an important breeding ground for the endangered Chinese Horseshoe Crab, will feature an education centre to teach the public about natural ecology and rural culture.
The government also suggests building a walkway along the shore of the sandflat, which shows the natural landscape of the land-to-marine transition, to avoid visitors stepping onto it.
Pui O will be developed to feature a walkway and glamping sites to educate the public on biodiversity and natural ecology.
The bureau also suggested reinforcing public transport facilities and introducing ferry services by building a pier at Cheung Sha, as well as considering crowd-control measures, such as an online reservation mechanism, to ensure a good travelling experience without damaging the ecological environment.
The government said it had explored various approaches to implement its South Lantau proposal, such as inviting the private sector’s participation. It noted that some operators with relevant experiences expressed interest.
“This will not only introduce market creativity and resources, but also reduce the government’s financial burden,” the bureau said.
“[We] will continue to liaise with the potential private developers or investors and further consider different approaches and their financial viability with a view to formulating suitable implementation plans for the proposals.”