Analysis II

TUNG CHUNG EXTENSION AREA

OVERVIEW:
THE RECLAMATION AS TOOL
Because of the natural topography with less flat land and more mountain slope, since 1842, Hong Kong had a long practice of making land through reclamation. The land reclamation had become a conventional methodology in urban development. Until 2013, there were 67 km2 of reclaimed land, accounting for 7% of Hong Kong total land area where accommodating for 27% of Hong Kong population and 70% of commercial activities.
Reclamation had become a tool for urban development in Hong Kong to avoid conflicts and generate more land revenue for the SAR government. Meanwhile in Lantau Island, nearly 70% of land is reserved for natural landscape and ecological preservation which is prohibited from development. Reclamation had become a prominent and conventional tool for the government to ‘invent’ more land resources which came in scarcity.

THE BACKYARD OF HONG KONG, 1950 - 1980
The Renowned Indigenous Island
The Island District, including such remote places like
Lantau Island, Sai Kung, Stanley, Cheung Chau, Lamma Island, was considered as the vocational backyard for the people living in the city. During 1950 to 1990, there were only a few reclamation projects completed.

THE BACKYARD OF HONG KONG, 1981 - 1990
The Renowned Indigenous Island
Mui Wo village was expanded in 1980 for the construction of the Mui Wo Pier for inter-villages and cross-district transportation. Later in 1982, Discovery Bay was reclaimed for private residential development under HKRI and New World Development. At the same time, Lantau had retained its reputation as the back garden for Hong Kong people, serving occasional recreation purposes with splendid natural landscape and indigenous fishing villages.

THE ROSE GARDEN ON THE ISLAND, 1991-2000
The ‘Globalized’ Villages
In the 1990s, the government had shifted their attention to the relocation of Kai Tak International Airport. In 1989, the colonial government announced the Hong Kong Airport Core Programme with the mass infrastructural construction of the reclamation of Chek Lap Kok Airport with 124.8 km2 area. The establishment of HKIA led to the proposal of Tung Chung as the pilot scheme of third generation New Town with 12.8 km2 reclaimed area. The airport development had opened up the gateway for real estate developers into the ‘backyard’. During this period of time, Lantau was transformed from a local island to a doorstep for the newcomers and visitors with a strong international identity. People were moving from old districts to the new town and living in the satellite garden city.

THE CONNECTED AMUSING ISLAND, 2001-2010
Limited non-purpose space and possibilities
The identity of the international recreational island was further strengthened with the completion of Disneyland Theme Park in 2003 and Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car to the Big Buddha in 2006. More public transportation, such as the Tung Chung Line of MTR and highways, was established to connect Lantau with Hong Kong main islands. The enhancement of public transportation had resulted in an increase of population in the towns as well. During the 2000s, the direction of Lantau development was arrested on the course of a ‘theme park’-like orientation with the establishment of various tourist spots.

FURTHER ENHANCEMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT, 2011-2020
The Discontent and the Feedback
In recent years, there has been a soaring trend in people’s environmental awareness and political responsibility. In spite of the resistance and social discontent from the general public and environmentalists, the reclamation projects of airport extension on the boundary crossing
island and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
(HZMB) were completed. To respond to people’s
concern of over-developing the waterfront and the
marine ecological system, in 2013, the SAR government had released a new design principal in addressing the shore front of reclamation land with mangrove and eco-shoreline. From this period onward, there has been a vigorous tension between NGO and the government on the developing agenda over Lantau. The public discourse of local resistance to the top-down reclamation has been a heated debate.