This is the first of our Q&As with candidates standing for Lantau in the coming District Council election.  Each will be asked the same ten questions and the answers published in full (the original in Chinese, the English edited slightly for length).

Randy Yu (candidate no. 1) is the establishment candidate, taking the place of the retiring Rainbow Wong.  He is already an appointed Islands District Council member, but this is his first tilt at an election.

Yu is a Tai O native and has the backing of all four Lantau rural committees – Mui Wo, Tai O, Tung Chung and South Lantau.  He also enjoys the support of Uncle Fat himself – the long-time Heung Yee Kuk chairman and kingmaker Lau Wong-fat is his father-in-law.  His responses are below.

Why are you standing for the Islands District Council?

I am a Lantau person. I was born and raised here, so I have a strong sense of belonging and very strong feelings towards the place, and so I give special attention to Lantau’s sustainable development. I hope to continue to contribute my personal work experience, my connections and professional knowledge for the community. I look forward to the future of the district and hope it brings balanced and harmonious development.

我是大嶼山人。除了在大嶼山出生也在這兒成長，對這地方很有歸屬感，由於對大嶼山非常有感情，所以，我特別關注大嶼山的可持續發展。我期望能夠繼續貢獻個人工作經驗、相關網絡，以及專業知識等為社區服務外，也盼望為地區的未來，帶來平衡與和諧的發展。

What are the main issues for South Lantau?

Through my election platform I am committed to the following:

(i) Transport network

Improve the problem of insufficient parking spaces; widen South Lantau Rd; improve public transport service quality; strengthen the Tai O-Tung Chung holiday ferry service.

一．交通網絡

爭取改善大嶼山泊車位不足問題;  要求擴闊南大嶼山道路;  爭取改善公共交通服務質素; 要求加強大澳至東涌假日渡輪服務

(ii) Social welfare and education

Additional rural ambulance services; additional dental services for the elderly at North Lantau Hospital; re-open the Southern District Secondary School in Mui Wo.

二．社會福利及教育

要求增設鄉郊救護車服務; 要求北大嶼山醫院增設長者牙科服務; 爭取復辦南約區中學

(iii) Community facilities

Improve Lantau telecommunications services; speed the construction of village sewage systems; ensure the digital TV signal fully covers Lantau.

三．社區設施

爭取改善大嶼山電訊網絡服務; 爭取加快建設鄉村污水系統; 爭取數碼電視訊號全面覆蓋大嶼山

(iv)  Sustainable Development of Lantau

Sustainable development of fisheries and agriculture; integration of different ethnic groups into the community; conservation of Lantau culture, history and ecology; optimisation of Lantau’s transport networks; district economic development.

四．大嶼山可持續發展

關注漁農業可持續發展; 關注多元種族社區共融; 關注保育人文歷史及環境生態; 要求優化島內交通網絡; 關注大嶼山地區經濟發展

If elected, what will be your priorities?

In the short-term I will hold discussions as soon as possible with relevant departments on priority tasks – improving the transport network, reinforcing the Lantau telecom network and other community facilities.

短期目標方面，當然正如我在競選政綱中提及的內容，必須按部就班處理外，必要及早和有關部門商議及爭取的首要任務，就是改善交通網絡問題，和加強大嶼山電訊網絡服務等社區設施。

I believe large and hasty changes in Lantau are inadvisable. It is Hong Kong’s rear garden. How to develop Lantau’s tourist industry and also carry forward the local community culture are worth careful consideration. What is a balanced and appropriate approach? The ideal way is to first understand clearly that local residents enjoy their existing lifestyle, and only then to start  making plans, and in this way avoid forcing ‘urbanite’ planning models on rural areas. I believe Lantau can achieve planned sustainable development and healthy growth as long as it is no longer losing population, and if the government continues to provide the community with additional,  optimised facilities.

在選區範圍內，我認同她不宜有很大、很快的轉變，因她是城市後花園。怎樣既能發展大嶼山本土旅遊業，亦能繼續發揚當地社區文化，確實值得深思，也是一項挑戰。甚麼是平衡與適切的方法？較理想是直接了解當地居民喜歡那種生活方式，然後再作規劃，以免強行將「城市人」的規劃模式加諸鄉郊地區。我展望大嶼山能夠有規劃地持續發展，健康增長，只要做到人口不再大幅流失，而政府又繼續為社區提供不同及更多的優化設施就較理想。

What is your view of the plan to open up S. Lantau roads to extra tourist buses and some private cars?

Before solving the parking space shortage and problems of basic road and transport facilities, it is not advisable to think about road opening arrangements. I am opposed to the government opening up South Lantau Road before committing to the improvement of our transport infrastructure, including but not limited to a standard road and additional parking facilities.

在未有解決大嶼山泊車位不足、基本道路及運輸設施等等問題前，不宜考慮嶼南路的開放事宜。我是反對政府在未有承諾改善大嶼南交通設施，包括但不限於道路標準及泊車設施之前開放嶼南路。

How can we improve public transport, ie, taxi, bus and ferry services?

This is an issue that has long been of concern to me. With regard to taxis, many Hong Kong residents and tourists visit Lantau and they have always found taxis in short supply. For many years [as a member of the] Islands District Council Traffic and Transport Committee I have proposed an increase in the number of taxis. In managing Lantau’s future development, as well as in response to the increase in population and visitor numbers, the government announced the issue of new taxi licences in June this year – but how many new licences should it issue? I believe the government is best advised to be guided by Lantau’s population numbers and to balance out the voice of the taxi industry.

如何改善出租車（的士）、巴士及渡輪服務，是本人一直關心的問題。以的士來說，大嶼山不少居民及旅遊人士，一直均認為大嶼山的士難求，不能滿足需要。就此問題，多年來本人在離島區議會和交通及運輸委員會會議上，曾多次提問及要求增加大嶼山的士的數量。港府為應付大嶼山未來發展，以及大嶼山人口和遊客數目的增長，本年六月已落實發出大嶼山的新的士牌照，但應發多少新牌照？個人認為宜以大嶼山的人口數量作參考，也須平衡的士業界的聲音。

Apart from increasing the number of buses and bus routes, we need to review all Lantau transport arrangements, including the possibility of building an island bicycle path and increasing Tai O-Tung Chung ferry services on holidays. With regards to the dredging problem [in Tai O], we need to mitigate the nuisance felt by local people.

其他方面，除了增加巴士行駛路線及數量來解決問題，還須檢討大嶼山整體的交通安排，包括如興建環島單車徑，又如在假日增加大澳至東涌小輪班次，以疏導問題，減輕當地居民備受滋擾的感覺等。

How to improve S. Lantau roads? Do we need a round-island highway?

In improving South Lantau Road, I believe enhancing it to a standard road, including expanding the width and reinforcing the roadbed, is very important, as is the straightening of the many tight bends on Keung Shan Road. We also must increase to the right level the number of parking spaces within villages.

在改善嶼南路方面，本人覺得提升嶼南路的標準，包括擴展闊度及加強路基等非常重要；又如羌山道多彎位故須將道路拉直，以策安全；也要適量增加鄉村範圍內的泊車車位。

As for the round-island highway, I believe that before building it it is essential to win the consent of the majority of Lantau people. Currently, the Transport Department may be reconsidering its 1990s plan. It needs to first conduct a public consultation on the highway, and when there is consensus carry out a feasibility study in order to meet the needs of Lantau’s future development.

至於興建環島公路，本人認為如要興建環島公路，首要條件是必須得到大部份大嶼山居民的共識。現階段運輸署可重新考慮九十年代的規劃，先為大嶼山環島公路進行公眾諮詢及有共識時進行可行性研究，以配合大嶼山的未來發展。

How to balance development, in particular tourism, and the South Lantau environment and lifestyle?

As stated, I have always held the position that rapid change here is inadvisable. How to develop Lantau’s tourist industry and at the same continue local community culture, allowing residents to maintain their lifestyle, is one challenge. A more balanced solution would be to understand local residents’ lifestyle and then make plans according to their choices.

如上文所言，對本人選區範圍，我一直堅持不宜有很大變化。怎樣做到發展大嶼山的旅遊業，又可延續當地社區文化，讓居民能保持原有生活方式是一項挑戰。較平衡的解決辦法，是直接去了解當地居民生活方式，然後，按他們的選擇再作規劃。

What other things can we do to improve South Lantau as a place to live and raise families?

Improving our transport network and facilities, speeding construction of village sewage systems, improving walking paths between villages, and giving attention to integration of our multi-racial community are prerequisites for improving the quality of life. Additionally, I will also push for a village ambulance service for residents, for an increase in dental services for the elderly at North Lantau Hospital, and for the reopening of the Southern District Secondary School in Mui Wo.

如本人在政綱中提到，改善交通網絡及設施、爭取加快鄉村污水系統、改善鄉間的行人路設施、關注多元種族社區共融等等工作，是改善及提高當地居民的生活質素的首要條件，此外，本人也會為居民爭取鄉郊救護車服務、要求當局在北大嶼山醫院增設長者牙科服務，以及爭取復辦南約區中學，讓居民及其家庭同樣受惠。

What is your view of the plan for the East Lantau Metropolis?

For Hong Kong as a whole, the East Lantau Metropolis is an issue for study. But before carrying it out, apart from studying the technical feasibility we also need to carry out the needs analysis study as proposed by the Living Islands Movement (LIM). Because this is a new issue, I believe everybody must first deeply understand and discuss before taking action. I have already made this point to the authorities, and they have already agreed to carry out a needs analysis study. I also hope that the authorities can become more transparent to allow stakeholders to further understand the project, and to make a final decision only after fully consulting stakeholders.

對香港整體而言，東大嶼都會是可研究的議題，但在進行前，本人希望除了研究工程技術可行性，亦須同時進行「島嶼活力行動」所提出的需求分析研究（needs analysis）。由於這是個新議題，本人認為大家要先深入了解及討論才作安排。為此本人曾向當局反映，而當局亦已答允進行需求分析研究，本人更盼望有關當局增加透明度，多加協助持份者了解這新項目，以及充分諮詢持份者後，才作最終決定。

Candidate Details

Name & Age 姓名與年齡:  YU Hon Kwan (Randy) 余漢坤, 53

Occupation:  Islands District Councillor, Corporate Executive

職業 : 離島區議會議員、公司行政人員

Political Affiliation  政治立場: Independent Candidate 獨立候選人

Education & Qualifications 學歷及專業資格

Graduate of Reading University, UK  英國雷丁大學畢業

1985: Honours Degree in Material Measurement, Reading University, UK  1985: 年獲大學頒發物料測量名譽學位

1989: Admitted to Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

1989年取得英國皇家特許測量師的專業資格

Community Experience 社區經驗

8 years as Islands District Councillor 八年擔任離島區議會議員

Tai O Cultural conservation work: including planning and managing Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnerships Scheme & Old Tai O Police Station project

大澳文化保育工作：包括策劃及管理「活化歷史建築伙伴計劃：舊 大澳警署」項目工程