Tung O 6-star hotel has always been in the Baroque on Lamma plans. More about those ever-evolving plans later this year, I'd guess.

Only heard rumours about the Lo Tik Wan plans, probably a very long shot.

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I repeat: "SIX STARS???"
So completely full of shit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_rating
"Overall, as no traditional organization or formal body awards or recognizes any rating over five-star deluxe, such claims are meaningless and predominantly used for advertising purposes."

How much experience has Bobby Li had in building or operating world-class hotels?
None at all.

How much would it cost to build?
Billions.

But he has built a block of flats at the tannery that have been empty for 10 years.

The hotel would be built and operated by a major international chain of resort hotels. Don't recall the name. Yes, anything over 5 stars is meaningless. Dubai claims 7 stars!

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It's not just a block of flats, it's a block of flats where toilets are located next to full-height windows so that people on the Pak Kok path could observe you shitting. It's the ultimate chic, isn't it. The guy's a pro.

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Deadline for comments on Environmental Impact Assessment study for the ex-Lamma Quarry housing project is this Friday, Mar 21!

This sample email to the EPD has been forwarded by 南丫島話 On Lamma, from http://www.inmediahk.net/node/1021640 (edited Google translation):

Environmental observers, walk the mountains!

Please go to the letter: against ex-Lamma Quarry's tall buildings and five thousand population increase.
Wednesday 2014-03-19

Editor's note:
The government has started the second phase of consultation on the feasibility study for the ex-Lamma Quarry site. The environmental impact assessment and consultation will be the first deadline to comment: March 21. The authors urge you to oppose the proposed increase in a letter to the 5,000 population development plans, instead pushing to use the former quarry for nature conservation and eco-tourism purposes.

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Email: sdpd@pland.gov.hk, lamma@cedd.gov.hk

Subject: "Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma former quarry: Future Land Use Planning and Engineering Study - Feasibility Study"

I am opposed to the development plan and the study mentioned above, for the following reasons :

1.) Nature conservation:

Ecological survey of different conservation groups have carried out on the island were recorded up to one hundred species of birds , more than seventy kinds of butterflies and 10 species of dragonflies , Sok Kwu Wan also found the world 's unique Romer's Tree Frog . These rich ecological records to prove Lamma Island has a high ecological value. Future development plans should be based on the principle of conservation , to avoid any large-scale development.

2.) Balance Community Development:

Sok Kwu Wan and South Lamma have currently only less than one thousand people. Thousands of people moving into to the quarry would pose serious problems for the entire Lamma community; including the rule of safety, employment, education, transportation, recreation, and even waste disposal, air and light pollution, and so on. Impact on the rest of Lamma is missing in the study which is unacceptable.

3.) Transport facilities:

Yung Shue Wan, about six thousand of the population, between Central ferry also need government subsidies to tens of millions each year in order to maintain normal services. The consultancy research report no future Sok Kwu Wan on new ferry service; financial and operational feasibility may be composed of researchers, are serious deficiencies .

4.) Lamma should develop eco-tourism:

Yung Shue Wan and Sok Kwu Wan's connecting hiking trails have become a popular activity for travelers visiting Lamma Island. Lamma Island has a unique multicultural community life, beautiful natural environment. Quarry should focus on the development direction for ecological tourism. It could develop into an ecological park with nature education, ecological experiences, environmental art, outdoor activities, natural science researchers, etc., establishing the region as a unique ecological environmental education park for all of Hong Kong, as quiet, interesting tourist attraction.

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請去信：反對前南丫石礦場建高樓 增五千人口
週三 2014-03-19 山牛

編按：政府正就前南丫石礦場用地的可行性研究作第二階段的諮詢，其環境影響評估諮詢將率先於3月21日截止，作者呼籲大家去信反對這個擬增加5000人口的發展大計，要求保育前石礦場作自然生態旅遊的用途。

電郵：sdpd@pland.gov.hk, lamma@cedd.gov.hk

有關「南丫島索罟灣前南丫石礦場未來土地用途發展規劃及工程研究－可行性研究」

本人反對以上的硏究所提及的發展規劃，理由如下：

1）自然生態保育：

不同的保育團體曾在島上進行的生態調查，分別記錄了多達一百種鳥類、七十多種蝴蝶及十多種蜻蜓，索罟灣亦發現世界獨有的盧文氏樹蛙。這些豐富的生態記錄証明南丫島擁有極高的生態價值。將來的發展計劃應以自然保育為原則，避免任何大型的發展。

2）平衡社區發展：

索罟灣及南丫島南部目前只有不足一千人口，石礦場一旦移入數千人口，必然會對整個南丫島構成嚴重的社區問題；包括冶安、就業、教育、交通、康樂、以至垃圾處理、空氣及光汚染等等。相關硏究只以石礦場為硏究重點而急略對整個南丫島的影響，是不能接受的缺失。

3）交通設施：

榕樹灣大約有六千人口，來往中環的渡輪每年也需要政府補貼數千萬元才能維持正常服務。有關顧問硏究報告完全沒有就將來索罟灣新的渡輪服務；有可能構成的財務及營運進行可行性硏究，是嚴重的缺失。

4）南丫島應發展生態旅遊：

索罟灣連接榕樹灣的健行步道，已經成為到訪南丫島旅客的熱門活動，加上南丫島獨特的多元文化社區生活，美麗的自然環境。石礦場應以生態旅遊作重點發展方向，大可以發展成一生態公園，以自然教育、生態體驗、環境藝術、戶外活動、自然科學硏究等等，建立亞洲區一處獨特的生態環境教育公園，亦為香港增加一有趣閒適的旅遊景點。

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Problem is that when they get to the "Environmental Impact Assessment" they have already made their plan. You can only comment on the impact of that plan, not propose alternatives.

They held the usual bogus "consultations" last year, ignored everything anyone said except those that supported this plan. It's all a charade.
The government wonders why the "Occupy" movement has so much support, why people march on June 4. It's because there is no way to get this government to listen if you go through official channels. They've redefined all the words so they have the form of democracy, the practice is they just make decisions based on what is good for the businessmen who have influence.

A few full-size photos from today's Lamma-zine story:

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Hi all -

I'm living in Sok Kwu Wan and walked by the ferry pier yesterday to find a new set of boards posted on the development that this post has been following. I checked out this forum today to update y'all on that and write some ideas.

Here's the most recent website put up by the relevant HK Gov. departments: http://www.ex-lammaquarry.hk/ - good information there.

Of course, this project has already received a lot of opposition. It's pretty much a reality that something's going to happen with this land and real estate developers are pretty powerful people - not to mention HK has some very pressing population issues.

Look - Lamma already has a very small wind farm and there are some buildings in HKU that are Leed Silver or better, like HKU's Centennial Campus. Instead of outright opposition - straight up 'NO', why not build a proposal from what the Planning & Civil Engineering Dev. Departments already have put together? If this "Baroque" concept could be a highly sustainable eco-community, that would be awesome. There is capacity and ability to realize modern sustainability practices in waste management, wind/wave/solar energy, and farm coop/permaculture that, with the right effort & direction - a project like this one could become something very positive for South Lamma. Instead of being a drain on resources it could be a generator.

I just got a photo of the display panels at Sok Kwu Wan ferry pier that rhhertz has mentioned above.

These will also come to Central Ferry Pier 4 and YSW Main Street next month, see http://www.ex-lammaquarry.hk/eng-PublicEngagement2.htm.

All the info on these panels and much more is also on the official project website:
http://www.ex-lammaquarry.hk

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That sailbox, Bounty, caused quite a stir in Sok Kwu Wan bay and anchoring at their ferry pier!

This is from the second set of photos I received within an hour. Thanks, Jo and Charlie!

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Letter from Green Power, Eco-Education & Resources Centre and Living Lamma:

Objections to the development of Ex-Lamma Quarry Area at Sok Kwu Wan:

"We, Eco-Education & Resources and Green Power Centre ( ERC& GP), write to lodge strong objections to the proposals contained in the captioned ‘Planning and Engineering Study on Future Land Use at Ex-Lamma Quarry Area at Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island – Feasibility Study’ based on the following grounds:

(A) Adverse impacts on Green Turtle breeding and hatching from light pollution
(B) Threats to biodiversity and winter birds migration
(C) Incompatibility of land uses in surrounding areas
(D) Floodgate effect of over–development on Lamma Island"

Read more...

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Good article written from Green Power, Eco-Education & Resources Center and Living Lamma. Share it across all social media channels.

Look at how the real estate developers have pushed their initiative forward. The language they use is written as if the completion of these projects on Lamma is inevitable.

We should frame our arguments in the same way. Speak as if this will just be another failed attempt to develop a future country park. Lamma is a future country park (that's a start).

We should also reach out to the SCMP and conduct some interviews so they can write an article to represent some of Lamma's anti-development community.

Spread the word about this stuff to the rest of HK. If we're just posting to each other on some forums and complaining about it in the bars in Yung Shue Wan,... nobody else is going to know or care.

Then, everyone needs to show up on May 3 to the public forum and *correctly* speak to the developers & Arup. If people show up and curse, whine & fuss -- they won't take that seriously.

Alan's description of a public consultation is quite accurate, and I should know because I've seen at least one government consultation from the inside. If anything they are even more of a scam than he suggests, with the final decision/s being taken by an individual or a 'star chamber' of individuals with little or no regard to what was said during the 'consultation' process.

The reality of most consultations is that the variety of opinions expressed (from 'crazy' to 'great-but-too-innovative-for-HK') unfortunately gives the government adequate leeway to claim that the final decision complies with at least some of the views ventured - usually those of the bland or basic variety. Having said that, the consultation I witnessed ended with a single individual making a decision (and carrying it out) that had absolutely nothing to do with the consultation process. It was a complete waste of time and money and served solely to give the impression that public and expert opinion had been heeded.

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