Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn speaks during a press conference on the 2024-25 Land Sale Programme at Central Government Offices in Admiralty, Hong Kong, on Feb 29, 2024. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is pressing ahead with the development of the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands despite a delay in the start of reclamation works, which were supposed to begin by the end of 2025, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said Sunday.

Linn said in a media interview after attending a radio program that officials were striving to start land reclamation within the tenure of the current-term HKSAR government.

The residential sites of the artificial islands will provide a total of 190,000 to 210,000 residential flats, easing the growing population pressure in the New Territories

“So with that in mind, in the course of this year, we will progressively complete our environmental assessment impact report and then have it submitted and have the statutory process triggered,” Linn said.  

“We will also be commencing a number of detailed works design studies to get ourselves prepared. And with more technical and engineering information on hand, we will be in a better position to assess the phasing of this mega project and the financing arrangement for the different phases and for the entire project,” she added.

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The project involves reclaiming 1,000 hectares of land to build artificial islands around Kau Yi Chau, off eastern Lantau. The residential sites of the artificial islands will provide a total of 190,000 to 210,000 residential flats, easing the growing population pressure in the New Territories.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Wednesday that the project would be postponed after considering its financial impact.