Master Talk: Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands
The idiom goes, “It might take a decade to grow trees, but a hundred years to cultivate people”. When it comes to cities, the planning and development involved are even more challenging. In Hong Kong’s long-term development plan, the HKSAR reviews the territorial development strategy once every decade to embrace mid- to long-term goals. In 2021, the HKSAR debut the "Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030" developmental strategy, listing The Northern Metropolis and Harbour Metropolis as key parts of a South-North dual engine. This time, “Master Talk” provided an enlightening experience for middle-school students from CCC Heep Who College, offering them an in-depth understanding of the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands initiative and a better understanding of the Islands, their blueprint and how they will realise a future that’s more convenient, spacious, and intelligent.
Urban planners and civil engineers envisioning the layout and vision of the third core business district of the artificial islands
The “Master Talk” kicked off at the Tung Chung Community Liaison Centre, where urban planners and civil engineers shed light on the vision, progress, and trajectory of the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands project. Consisting of 3 islands, Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands will offer 1000 hectares of land, making it Hong Kong’s third CBD after Central and Kowloon East. Leveraging the South-North axis that connects Lantau Island with the Greater Bay Area and the world, the artificial islands are set to strengthen Hong Kong's transportation network and offer new decanting space for the redevelopment of old urban areas.
Imagining Spacious, Quality Living for Future Hong Kong
Hong Kongers dream of living in peace and working in contentment – something surely the attending students understand. Realising spacious, quality living is a goal of Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, which aim to increase the average size of residential units and enhance the ratio of open space and communities facilities to population. Adopting a “15-minute neighbourhood” concept for a liveable community, the Islands introduce a suite of smart, eco-friendly, and resilient features, including advanced mass transit systems, cycling trails, and infrastructure supporting new-energy vehicles, among others. Students took the opportunity to satisfy their curiosities with questions for the engineers and urban planners, such as “will the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands be vehicle-free like Ma Wan?”; “What are sponge cities?” and more! Students also partook in the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands’ “Islands of the Future” simulation, whereby they put on their urban-planning caps and created their ideal community.
A 360-degree Understanding of Lantau Island
Aside from the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands project, students also got a better understanding of Lantau communities like Tai O, Yi O, Tung Chung, Ma Wan Chung and their unique cultures, history, conservation programmes and urban planning through the exhibitions and simulations at the Tung Chung Community Liaison Centre.
