What comes next?
In a hilly, space-strapped city, land reclamation seems vital for urban development and meeting social needs. The government must carefully weigh accompanying issues of environment and heritage conservation, so it’s common for projects to be in the works for decades as it goes through rounds of funding approvals for land surveys and studies before starting the actual construction.
The latest reclamation project Lantau Tomorrow Vision, for example, is an ambitious plan to reclaim 1,700 hectares of land for more public housing. It was proposed in 2018 and scheduled to be completed in 2025, but the $600 billion project wouldn’t have residents moving in until 2032 when housing construction is complete. Thus, whether reclamation projects are worth it and proper allocation of government funds are other pressing consideration, too.
That being said, Hong Kong would not be nearly what it is today without the inconspicuous yet influential force of land reclamation. So the next time you’re out and about, think about the land you’re standing on, and how you might be drowning if you were in the same spot just a couple of decades ago.