Hong Kong aims to start artificial islands reclamation within current administrative term, despite plans to delay by up to 3 years: minister

Development chief Bernadette Linn also says Lantau Tomorrow Vision reclamation work delay will not upset wider strategy to provide 410,000 homes over next 10 years

Government aims to start work for project within current administrative term, minister adds, stressing authorities will adopt multipronged financing approach

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An illustration of the Lantau Tomorrow Vision project. The city’s finance chief has said work may be delayed two to three years, at a time when authorities are grappling with a large deficit. Photo: Handout

Published: 5:18pm, 3 Mar 2024Updated: 8:43pm, 3 Mar 2024

Hong Kong authorities will press ahead this year with environmental and planning studies for a reclamation mega project off Lantau Island and aim to start work within the current administrative term, despite plans to delay the scheme by up to three years, a minister has said.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho on Sunday stressed the government’s determination to launch the Lantau Tomorrow Vision initiative remained unchanged, with the delay to have no effect on authorities’ wider target of producing 410,000 homes using 3,300 hectares (8,154 acres) of land in a decade’s time.

More than half of the land earmarked for the target was previously expected to come from the artificial islands and Northern Metropolis mega projects.

“The project delay will have no impact on our 10-year plan for providing public and private housing,” she told a radio programme.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn says the government will look to other locations for land supply if the project delay is significant. Photo: Edmond So

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Friday that reclamation work to create the artificial islands would be “slightly” delayed by about two to three years.