“Lantau Today or Lantau Tomorrow” is a project that we, four students from the University of Hong Kong, wish to raise public awareness on this controversial and irreversible East Lantau Metropolis development.

The government has laid strong emphasis on the grand visions of the East Lantau Metropolis development, for instances, becoming the third central business district that will create enormous economic benefits, acting as a solution to current housing problem to accommodate 1 million citizens. Regardless of the feasibility and practicality of the project in realizing those visions, is it necessary to exploit and sacrifice our precious environment for city development?

History tells us no reclamation is not harmful in any circumstances no matter how the government is trying to glorify its advanced technology. From the construction of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge to Airport Third Runway, waters in nearby regions have been seriously affected, with the number of Chinese White Dolphins dropping drastically from 88 in 2011 to 32 in 2019. It is solely a tip of the iceberg. We are facing the more serious environmental and socio-economic threats brought by the development, as discussed in the video.

Reclamation is always our last resort to city development. While seeing there are other available land options, the government has to shoulder the responsibility to conserve our marine life, but not taking the lead to destroy it. We have to bear in mind that the damages are irreversible.

Humans are not the only species on Earth. While taking advantage from it, we must respect the mother nature and ensure the sustainability of it. We urge the government to retreat the East Lantau Metropolis development and work on other measures in achieving sustainable development in Hong Kong.

A special thanks to our interviewees for taking their precious time for the interviews with us, especially for Sarah who took us around the affected waters with her cruise boat. They are:

Angel Lam Yin-ha
(WWF Hong Kong’s Oceans Conservation Manager)
June Lam
(Representative of Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society)
Leung Kwok-ho
(Cheung Chau District Councillor)
Merrin Pearse
(Chairman of Living Islands Movement, Sustainability Consultant)
Sarah Yip
(Cheung Chau Resident, Marine Conservation Enthusiast)
Tony Fung
(Representative of Peng Chau Reclamation Concern Group)

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