Hong Kong’s New Island Dream — A Circus or a Catastrophe?
When the super‑strong Typhoon Mangkhut rolled in, the city was a watery mess, roads swamped and offices drowned, and even the HKZMB bridge looked like a frightened fish splash. The government’s new “East Lantau Metropolis” plan, aiming to build a 1,700‑ha island that could house more than a million people, now sits on shaky ground — literally.
Why the Plan is a Walking, (and Floating) Red Flag
- Unthinkable climate risk: Rising seas and bigger storms could turn the island into a real-life “lament” instead of a luxury haven.
- Massive ecological loss: 22 sq km of natural marine habitat would vanish, costing the environment and future generations.
- Hefty price tag: Estimates swing from HK$500 billion (S$88 billion) to over HK$700 billion, comparable to the entire government reserve.
- Transport nightmare: The island’s location makes it vulnerable to a spate of weather‑induced transport disruptions.
Voices From All Corners
Lam Chiu Ying, the former weather bureau chief, slammed the plan as “the worst choice.” He pointed out that waves during typhoons are not expected to exceed 2 m for the island, but that still leaves a big “what‑if” game. Meanwhile, Greenpeace’s Walton Li calls Hong Kong “one of the world’s most vulnerable port cities.” He warns that stronger storms and higher surge means flooding risk is sky‑high.
Old‑line civil engineer Ngai Hok Yan says the island could be built to withstand big storms, yet “predicting the exact wave size will always be uncertain.” Tom Yam from the Citizens Task Force adds that the heavy cost would denude half of the city’s fiscal reserves, and the project would mainly reward developers and construction firms.
What the Think‑Tank Is Saying
The privately funded Hong Kong Foundation, backed by the very developers behind the project and former CEO Tung Chee Hwa, ran a glam marketing push. “Reclamation is the best solution,” they shout, flaunting a new video starring Andy Lau. They argue the island can be built higher to manage sea‑level rise and commute with a tone of “cost effectiveness, environmental conservation, planning and infrastructure, and the preservation of property rights.”
Other voices, like Martin Williams of the environmental group, accuse the government of a “head‑in‑the‑sand approach,” pointing to Osaka’s Kansai airport as a cautionary tale of flooding after Typhoon Jebi.
What Could Be Done Better?
The Citizens Task Force argues that we should look at the 1,000+ ha of existing land developers own in the hidden gem that is the New Territories. Instead of adding more acreage at sea, we should tackle affordability, not land shortage. The current pricing strategy has to keep land premiums sky‑high, and too, too, we forgot that prices can actually scare away “real” workers and residents.
Bottom Line
Hong Kong’s buzzing with ideas, but the trade‑off is huge: a massive financial drain, severe environmental damage, and a fragile, floating “home” that might turn into the next big splash if climate change keeps rocking the planet.
