Why a fight is raging over a proposal to build homes in Hong Kong’s country parks
Hong Kong is one of the world’s densest cities but campaigners warn that a plan to build housing on country park land will have devastating effects on the environment
Environmental campaigners remain concerned the government will push through with plans to build housing on the fringes of country parks to relieve the city’s housing crisis.
Hong Kong, the fourth most densely populated city in the world at 6,682.5 people per square kilometre, faces an ongoing land shortage due to a steadily growing population. Country parks account for about 40 per cent of the territory’s total land space – 1,105.6 square kilometres or 44,300 hectares.
The city is home to 24 country parks which the government has “designated for the purpose of nature conservation, countryside recreation and outdoor education”. They are protected under the Country Parks Ordinance.
Critics have condemned the government for spending HK$10 million on a study, due to be completed by 2019, which will consider the feasibility of building housing for elderly residents on 20-hectare sites on the edge of Tai Lam and Ma On Shan country parks.
They argue the study is biased because it is being led by the Housing Society, a statutory non-profit group which has a vested interest in building housing.
