Policy Address
116. To underpin the sustainable development and
conservation of Lantau, the Government will implement rural
conservation pilot projects in areas such as Tai O, Shui Hau and
Pui O. Different government and community resources will be
deployed to take forward various rural conservation initiatives,
including nature conservation and education, revitalisation of old
village buildings, as well as promotion of ecological and cultural
tourism.
117. Apart from making strenuous efforts to conserve the
rural areas and countryside, the current-term Government also
adopts a multi-pronged approach to release land resources,
which involves the NDAs and new town extension projects
mentioned above as well as development of brownfield sites and
reclamation, to address the pressing needs for housing and other
development. The reality, however, is that there are often
diverging views in local communities or even in the whole
society on land development projects. During the planning and
development process, we face all sorts of challenges and
resistance that may lead to delays, downscaling or even the
scrapping of projects. I consider that regarding land use, we
should incorporate more land with high ecological value into
country parks, increase the total area of ecological conservation
sites and country parks, and enhance their recreational and
educational values. At the same time, we should also consider
allocating a small proportion of land on the periphery of country
parks with relatively low ecological and public enjoyment value
for purposes other than real estate development, such as public
housing and non-profit-making elderly homes. This issue
matters to the well-being of our next generation and warrants
serious deliberation of its pros and cons by the society.
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