Groups warn poorly planned Hong Kong tourism projects will damage eco sites
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Greenpeace and Liber Research Community, an NGO focusing on development issues, released findings of a survey on Monday that identified 37 cases of land filling, fly-tipping and removal of vegetation, among other man-made causes, that threatened the environment in South Lantau, and Pak Nai and Tsim Bei Tsui in the New Territories.
They warned that future tourism development in these areas could worsen the situation, as the government in April invited submissions from the private sector for projects, including two places envisioned to become eco-recreational and ecotourism destinations.
'Although the government has laid out development blueprints, we worry that the ecological damage will become more severe without effective government supervision and ecotourism policies, especially when Hong Kong's ecology is set to become tourism spots,' Greenpeace campaigner Ha Shun-kuen said.
'We worry that ecotourism development will turn into ecological disasters.'
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With the latest focus on island and coastal tourism, the government envisions eco-recreational development in South Lantau, such as a water sports centre and adventure activities.
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