A consultant commissioned by the Hong Kong government has recommended that authorities prioritise the creation of the 338-hectare (835-acre) Sam Po Shue wetland park as it establishes conservation areas in the Northern Metropolis, while warning that two of three other parks in the area may be smaller than expected.
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.
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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.
The consultant suggested prioritising the development of the 338-hectare Sam Po Shue wetland park in phases, arguing its creation could serve as a guidepost for the other three, it said.
The consultant suggested dividing each park into four zones designated for recreation, the promotion of biodiversity, eco-friendly aquaculture and fish culture operations.
“Management options in cooperation with different parties are recommended to be adopted at the different zones within the parks, depending on the functions and operational needs of the relevant zones, while the government is recommended to oversee the overall management,” the report said.
It suggested collaboration with local communities or private landowners to run eco-lodge and leisure fish farms in the wetland parks.
Roy Ng Hei-man, a campaign officer with the Conservancy Association NGO, raised concerns about the areas for potential inclusion as the wetland parks could be significantly smaller.
He also had reservations about the effectiveness of public-private partnership projects, saying he hoped the government would take the lead in these conservation efforts.
Officials have reiterated that wetland conservation should focus on quality rather than quantity, with Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho stressing the proposed conservation area figures in 2021 were not “promises”.
Under the 2021 plan, wetland parks at Nam Sang Wai, Sam Po Shue and Hoo Hok Wai were proposed to be 400 hectares, 520 hectares and 300 hectares, respectively, while the existing Hong Kong Wetland Park will be expanded by more than 200 hectares.
The proposed wetland park at Sam Po Shue was found to have shrunk in size last year after the government marked part of the area to develop an innovation hub in the Northern Metropolis.
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