'Sand Shortage Won't Drive Up Reclamation Cost'

Development Secretary Michael Wong on Friday sought to play down concerns that a shortage of marine sand would push up the cost for a massive reclamation plan in waters off Lantau Island.

The first phase of the reclamation involves creating a 1,000-hectare artificial island off Kau Yi Chau, and Wong said half of the reclaimed land would be filled with construction waste – which, he said, Hong Kong produces about 1,500 tonnes a year.

He said another ongoing reclamation project in Tung Chung is using artificial sand instead of marine sand, adding the supply has been “smooth”.

But conservationists are not convinced.

The Save Lantau Alliance urged the government not to go ahead with the mega reclamation plan in Lantau, calling the project a "bottomless abyss".

The alliance's Debbie Chan told RTHK’s Priscilla Ng that the price of reclamation materials have skyrocketed over the past few years.

“In Hong Kong, the price raised more than ten times over the last ten years. We’re also concerned that even though the government suggests that we can use construction waste from the demolition of buildings, but actually the cost is still really high,” she said.

The group said the reclamation will not only come with a huge cost, but destroy the local marine ecosystem.