A consultant lays out a vision for the creation of wetlands in the northern capital of Hong Kong

A consultant commissioned by the Hong Kong government has recommended that authorities prioritize the creation of the 338-hectare (835-acre) Sam Po Shu Wetland Park, as it creates conservation areas in Northern Metropoliswhile warning that two of the three other parks in the area may be smaller than expected.

A report released by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation on Thursday outlines proposals for the development of wetland parks in the Northern Capital, a megaproject to transform 30,000 hectares of land near the city’s border with mainland China into a residential and economic hub.

Proposing the theme “ecotourism paradise”, the consultant proposed a maximum area of 397 hectares for the wetland park at Nam Sang Wai. About 45 percent, or 179 hectares, were listed as “potential” areas.

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The report also notes that the existing Hong Kong Wetland Park at Tin Shui Wai could be expanded by a maximum of 224 hectares as part of efforts to create a “teaching wetland”.

But about 36 percent of the additional area, or 80 hectares, could be excluded due to potential public-private partnership projects that allowed limited development on the site, the report said.

According to the consultant, the fate of these plots will depend on the progress of projects, detailed study and discussion with interested parties.

He proposed the size of the remaining wetland park at Hoo Hok Wai to be about 277 hectares, including four hectares at Sandy Ridge.

The consultant proposed developing the 338-hectare Sam Po Shue Wetland Park in phases, arguing that its creation could serve as a benchmark for the other three.

The consultant suggested dividing each park into four zones designated for recreation, biodiversity promotion, sustainable aquaculture and fish farming.

“It is recommended to adopt management options in collaboration with different parties in different zones within the parks, depending on the functions and operational needs of the respective zones, while the government is recommended to control the overall management,” the report said.

He suggested working with local communities or private landowners to create eco-lodges and recreational fish farms in wetland parks.

Hong Kong Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai. Photo: Dixon Lee

Roy Ng Hei-man, campaign manager for the NGO Conservancy Association, expressed concern about the areas for potential inclusion, as wetland parks could be much 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 reiterated that wetland conservation should focus on quality, not quantity, and Development Minister Bernadette Lynn Hong-ho stressed that the proposed 2021 conservation area figures were not “promises”.

According to the 2021 plan, the wetland parks in Nam Sang Wai, Sam Po Shu and Hu Hock Wai were planned to be 400 hectares, 520 hectares and 300 hectares respectively, while Hong Kong’s existing wetland park would be expanded by more than 200 hectares.

The size of a proposed wetland park in Sam Po Shue has been revealed to have been reduced last year after the government earmarked part of the site for the development of an innovation hub in the Northern Metropolis.

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