Tung Wan Beach extension project - update

In a post in 2012 I wrote about plans to significantly expand/replenish the main beach on Ma Wan. See :

http://parkislandhongkong.blogspot.com/2012/09/ma-wans-tung-wan-beach-to-be-extended.html 

Map of proposed Tung Wan Beach replenishment project.

I spoke to the Department of Leisure and Cultural Services today for an update, as the previous plans were to commence works in March or April of 2014, and so far I have not see the beach grow.

The latest plans are now for works to be commenced in March/April of 2015, with the project to be finished by the end of 2015.

So, what caused the delay? Well it's typical Government bureaucracy, (as is often the case). In a nutshell, the volume of sand to be added is so large that it will "significantly alter the shoreline and high-water mark". In essence under some Ordinances, this is considered to be "creating new land". So even though the Department of Leisure and Cultural Services has approved the project, there now need to be legislative amendments made, both under the Town Planning Ordinance, and the Foreshore and Sea-Bed (Reclamation) Ordinance.

There is also a minor matter of local shrimp fisherman complaining that the works will affect their catch, and seeking a small amount of compensation, but that apparently has been dealt with.

I also obtained a little further insights into longer term plans for the island (ie the part under the bridge and the fisherman village side, but nothing definite for now that is worth reporting).

Diagram showing the proposed floating sand pipeline.