Golf club reprieve as Hong Kong court overturns approval for 12,000 flats on course
Judge notes that decision could lead to public consultation being conducted again
A court has overturned environmental authorities’ conditional approval for building 12,000 public flats on part of the city’s oldest golf course, a ruling that gives a reprieve to the Hong Kong Golf Club’s operations on the site and which could send the development plan back to the consultation stage.
The High Court handed down the judgment on Monday after the club filed a legal challenge against the government’s decision on an environmental impact assessment report for the public housing development on 9.5 hectares (23.5 acres) of the 172-hectare golf course in Fanling.
The judge noted that quashing the decision could lead to the public consultation being reconducted with comments sought again from environmental advisers. Observers said the process could result in changes and further delay the housing project, which was expected to be completed by 2029.
The Environmental Protection Department said in a reply to the Post that it would review the judgment with its legal team to determine whether to appeal and the next steps it would take.
“An announcement will be made to the public at the appropriate time,” a spokesman said.
The club welcomed the judgment and stressed the importance of preserving the entire golf course, of which the government recovered 32 hectares last year when the lease expired, including the 9.5 hectares that it planned to use for public housing.
