Consultant lays out vision for wetland park creation in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis
Authorities should prioritise creation of 338-hectare Sam Po Shue wetland park, government-commissioned consultant says
The report, released by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department on Thursday, laid out suggestions for developing wetland parks in the Northern Metropolis, a megaproject to turn 30,000 hectares of land close to the city’s border with mainland China into a housing and economic hub.
Proposing a theme of “ecotourism paradise”, the consultant suggested a maximum area of 397 hectares for the wetland park at Nam Sang Wai. About 45 per cent, or 179 hectares, was listed as area for “potential” inclusion.
The report also suggested the existing Hong Kong Wetland Park at Tin Shui Wai could be expanded by another 224 hectares, at most, as part of efforts to create “wetlands for learning”.
But about 36 per cent of the extra area, or 80 hectares, could be excluded given potential public-private partnership projects, which allowed limited development on the site, the report said.
The consultant said the fate of these areas would be subject to the projects’ progress, detailed studies and discussion with stakeholders.
It proposed the size of the remaining wetland park at Hoo Hok Wai be about 277 hectares, including four hectares at Sandy Ridge.
