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HONGKONG-CHINA-ECONOMY-HOUSING-POLITICS-PROTEST
Thousands protest proposed artificial islands for Hong Kong housing
HONG KONG, Oct 14, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Thousands took to the streets in Hong
Kong Sunday to protest a government plan to build new housing on artificial
islands, claiming the “white elephant” project will damage the environment
and line the pockets of developers.
The government’s proposal to reclaim 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) of land
around Hong Kong’s largest outlying island, Lantau, has been touted as a
solution to the pressing housing shortage in the city — notorious for being
one of the least affordable markets on the planet.
City leader Carrie Lam said new residential units on the proposed
artificial islands could accommodate 1.1 million people in the coming years,
and pledged to reserve 70 percent of them for public housing.
But critics say the massive projects are too costly and will also destroy
the environment — especially marine life — with many also expressing
frustration over the lack of public say in the plans.
There is no official figure for how much the islands will cost, but some
campaigners have put the figure at HK$800 billion (US$102 billion).
Protesters chanted “We don’t want white elephants!” in Sunday’s march,
joined by children holding up their own illustrations of Lantau’s famous
Chinese white dolphins — whose numbers have plunged due to recent
construction and reclamations, according to environmentalists.
“There are many ways to find land in Hong Kong, but (the authorities) don’t
want to cross the property developers,” said 52-year-old Mr. Chan, referring
to the government’s reluctance to take back the vast land banks held by
developers.
For some, the project should be rejected for its environmental impact
alone.
“This shouldn’t be controversial. Once you’ve destroyed the environment,
that’s it,” said accountant Mrs. Wong.
Mr. Chan and Mrs. Wong only provided their surnames.
City officials are promoting the future metropolis of Lantau, which is
linked to the mainland with a mega-bridge, as a gateway to the world and to
neighbouring Chinese cities. Hong Kong’s international airport — also
partially built on reclaimed land — is located just off Lantau.
This is not the first time a mega infrastructure project has sparked outcry
in the city.
Hong Kong’s new high-speed rail link to the mainland and the soon-to-be-
opened bridge connecting the city with Macau and Zhuhai have also proven
divisive.
Supporters say the multi-billion-dollar projects will boost business, while
others claim they are politically driven and costly white elephants aimed at
blurring the boundaries between Hong Kong and mainland China as Beijing
tightens its grip over the semi-autonomous city.
Prominent democracy activist Nathan Law, who joined Sunday’s protest, said
the government’s use of public funds to “ardently” pursue mega-projects
rather than welfare programmes such as universal pension shows its lack of
will to improve people’s livelihoods.
“This is how an undemocratic government who doesn’t need to be accountable
to the people performs,” Law told AFP.
BSS/AFP/RY/1908 hrs