Shui Hau tops the list as govt hands out $9m for Lantau conservation education
Shui Hau’s rich and fragile ecosystem has attracted the biggest share of funds under the government’s new Lantau environmental education scheme.
Two proposals, from WWF HK and the City University Chemistry Department, have together received HK$2.35 million under the Environmental Education & Community Action Projects funding scheme for Lantau conservation.
WWF Hong Kong received HK$1.59 million for its proposal to “promote preservation of the high ecological value of Shui Hau and to enrich ecological knowledge of intertidal mudflats.” It also proposes the creation of a code of conduct for clam diggers.
The City U team aims to “enhance public’s understanding of the ecological value of Shui Hau and human’s impacts on the ecology (especially Horseshoe Crabs).”
They are among nine projects to have attracted HK$9 million in funds, the government announced yesterday.
Other recipients include The Environmental Association, which received HK$1.56 million to help develop an augmented reality app and panoramic videos, and OIWA (Outlying Islands Women’s Association), which was awarded HK$1.3 million to run conservation education programmes for children and students.
The Environment & Conservation Fund Secretariat says it set up the Lantau fund to support the Sustainable Lantau Blueprint’s vision of balancing development and conservation.
It also earmarked another HK$10 million to education and community action conservation projects for South Lantau.
The full list of funded projects:
Lantau Confidential 
Lovely to see Shui Hau being saved. I remember in the 1980’s campaigning to stop a proposed movement of Erskine Barracks from the NT to Shui Hau. As understood it, at the time, It was a political move in light of 1997 being close. I teamed up with a great journalist from the SCMP to protest against the construction of a huge bridge accross the small valley between the road and the country park that was currently under construction by the Gurkhas.
I believe our first expose was a Sunday SCMP front page headline ‘ Army bulldozes it’s way into Lantau country park. The following week we both were given to understand that we should cease from all comments on this matter. Nevertheless the bridge I understand still remains but no army barracks were ever constructed.
Long may it be so on this fantastic part of South Lantau’s coastline.