CB(1)288/05-06(08) For Discussion on 22 November 2005 Legislative Council Panel on Planning, Lands and Works and Panel on Environmental Affairs Concept Plan for Lantau – Outcome of Public Consultation Purpose This paper briefs Members on the outcome of the public consultation on the Concept Plan for Lantau (the Concept Plan) and the way forward. Background 2. The Lantau Development Task Force (the Task Force), chaired by the Financial Secretary, formulated the Concept Plan last year to provide an overall planning framework to ensure a balanced and co-ordinated approach for the future development of Lantau while meeting the conservation needs. The Concept Plan proposals are conceptual in nature for community discussion. We briefed Members on the Concept Plan proposals at the meeting of the Panel on Planning, Lands and Works held on 26 October 2004. With the support of the Panel, the Task Force launched the public consultation on the Concept Plan in end November 2004. Concept Plan for Lantau 3. The overall planning concept for Lantau is set against the vision to promote sustainable development by balancing development and conservation needs. The Concept Plan proposes to focus major economic infrastructure and urban development in North Lantau to optimize the use of the transport links and infrastructure, while protecting 1 the other parts of Lantau for nature conservation and sustainable recreational and visitor uses. Under this planning concept, the Concept Plan has set out four development themes, namely (i) Economic Infrastructure and Tourism, (ii) Theme Attractions based on Heritage, Local Character and Natural Landscape, (iii) Enhancing the Recreation Potential of Country Parks, and (iv) Meeting Nature Conservation Needs. Various proposals have been identified under each theme for public discussion. A copy of the Concept Plan is at Annex A for Members’ reference. Public Consultation 4. The community has been actively and widely engaged during the three-month public consultation on the Concept Plan, which was completed on 28 February 2005. Two public forums were held, one for the general public, and another for the Lantau community. Twenty-nine consultative sessions were arranged for various relevant statutory and advisory bodies, District Councils (DCs), Rural Committees (RCs), Area Committees (ACs), local residents, local community organizations, professional institutes, environmental concern groups, and relevant stakeholders in the tourism, logistics, leisure and recreation sectors. A list of the consultative sessions is at Annex B. A radio API was launched to publicize the consultation exercise and a designated website set up to promulgate the consultation materials, consultation activities and other relevant information. Overall Public Responses 5. Members of the public have responded positively. Apart from the comments and suggestions received at the public forums and consultative sessions, over 540 written submissions including comments and new proposals or ideas for Lantau have been received from the public, since the commencement of the consultation period. 6. The Islands DC, Lantau AC, Islands RCs, some district organizations and local residents of Lantau expressed strong support for 2 the Concept Plan. The Heung Yee Kuk, Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong (now called Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong), Liberal Party and some professional institutes, etc. also supported the Concept Plan. Comments received from the relevant statutory and advisory bodies in general were positive. 7. Some environmental concern groups and individuals expressed strong concern and objection over some proposals in the Concept Plan. Some raised concerns also on projects not forming part of the Concept Plan, including the Northwest Lantau option of Container Terminal 10 proposed in the Study on Hong Kong Port – Master Plan 2020 and the proposal for a Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal at Soko Islands made by CLP Power/Castle Peak Power Company Limited. 8. Overall speaking, the role that Lantau could play in providing new impetus to Hong Kong’s economic development was agreed. The public generally supported the planning vision of Lantau to promote sustainable development by balancing development and conservation needs, as well as the planning concept of focusing major economic infrastructure and tourism uses in North Lantau while protecting rural Lantau primarily for nature conservation and sustainable recreational and visitor uses. The four development themes were in general considered appropriate to meet different land use needs. While there were views calling for more infrastructure and development on Lantau, some others suggested that Lantau should be protected mainly for conservation with no further development. 9. The key public comments and the Administration’s responses are consolidated at Annex C for Members’ reference. A full consultation report with the detailed public comments and the Administration’s responses at a CD-ROM is at Annex D. A hardcopy of the report is available at the Panel Secretariat for Members’ reference. 3 Way Forward 10. We shall publish the public consultation report for public information. The Concept Plan proposals will be reviewed and revised in the light of the public comments, where appropriate. Some new proposals and ideas from the public, which are considered compatible with the planning intentions and planning concept for Lantau, will be further examined. The revised Concept Plan would be released for public engagement next year. We will continue to listen to the public with a view to mapping out the future development of Lantau jointly with the community. Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau Planning Department November 2005 4 Annex B List of Consultative Sessions Consultative Sessions Date Organised by Lantau Development Task Force 1. Legislative Council Panel on Planning, Lands and Works 26.10.04 2. Islands District Council 06.12.04 3. Tourism Strategy Group 09.12.04 4. Environmental Concern Groups 10.12.04 5. Professional Institutes 11.12.04 6. Antiquities Advisory Board 13.12.04 7. Islands Area Committees and Rural Committees 04.01.05 8. Town Planning Board 07.01.05 9. Advisory Council on the Environment 17.01.05 10. Leisure, Recreation and Sports Sector 19.01.05 11. Hong Kong Tourism Board 20.01.05 12. Heung Yee Kuk New Territories 24.01.05 13. Planning Sub-committee of Land and Building Advisory Committee 24.01.05 14. Country and Marine Parks Board 25.01.05 15. Tsuen Wan District Council 25.01.05 16. Tourism Sector 02.02.05 17. Land and Building Advisory Committee 17.02.05 18. Hong Kong Logistics Development Council 18.02.05 19. Council for Sustainable Development 21.02.05 20. Transport Advisory Committee 21.02.05 Attended Upon Request 21. Seminar on Concept Plan for Lantau (Organised by Islands Branch Office, Democratic Alliance for 06.12.04 Betterment of Hong Kong) 22. Consultation Forum on Concept Plan for Lantau for Tai O Residents 20.01.05 (Organised by Tai O Rural Committee) 23. Presentation on Concept Plan for Lantau 21.01.05 (Organised by The Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong) 24. Open Forum on Concept Plan for Lantau for Residents in Four Private Residential Developments in Tung Chung 29.01.05 (Organised by MTR Corporation Limited) 1 Consultative Sessions Date 25. Lantau Concept Plan and Public Consultation for Mui Wo Residents 01.02.05 (Organised by Mui Wo Rural Committee) 26. Public Briefing on the Concept Plan for Lantau to Discovery Bay Residents 05.02.05 (Organised by Discovery Bay City Owners Committee) 27. Roundtable Luncheon: Development and Conservation of Lantau 24.02.05 (Organised by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce) 28. Is the Newly Proposed Development in Lantau Sustainable? – Review on the “Concept Plan for Lantau” 26.02.05 (Organised by the Conservancy Association) 29. Symposium on Sustainable Development of Lantau 27.02.05 (Organised by the Lantau Sustainable Development Task Force) Total Number of Consultative Sessions Organised / Attended: 29 2 Annex C Key Comments and the Administration’s Responses 1. General Planning Intention for Lantau 1.1 The public generally supported the planning vision for Lantau to promote sustainable development by balancing development and conservation needs. The planning concept of focusing major economic infrastructure and tourism uses in North Lantau while protecting the rural Lantau for nature conservation and sustainable recreational and visitor uses was also well-received. The Council for Sustainable Development was of the view that balanced development on Lantau would be very important. Economic development should take account of potential social and environmental impacts. Major social considerations such as the population, employment, supporting facilities and other people-based issues should also be taken into account. The Council hoped that further planning would proceed on the basis of a long-term and holistic perspective. Some commenters queried if there was a change in the planning intention for Lantau which was considered to be for conservation and recreation only. Some considered that the Concept Plan was economic development driven. 1.2 Responses : There has been no change in the planning intention for Lantau. The Concept Plan has followed the planning principle of achieving sustainable development by balancing economic, social and environmental needs, which is also the overarching principle adopted in the Hong Kong 2030 : Planning Vision and Strategy (HK2030 Study). It has followed the development pattern as set out in the South West New Territories Recommended Development Strategy endorsed by the Administration in 2001 after public consultation. The Concept Plan has also taken into account the latest planning circumstances. The provision for new housing, employment and business opportunities and adequate supporting facilities will continue to be the major planning principle for the planned new development areas on Lantau. For the traditional settlements and other areas in rural Lantau, the Concept Plan proposals for sustainable recreational and visitor uses also aim at helping to boost the local economy to sustain the local community and employment.