Those who liked the idea of turning part or all of Fanling golf course into affordable housing and/or public park land are now full of remorse, it seems…
Public opinion on building housing on Fanling Golf Course has made a U-turn, with many who had supported the plan now regretting it, says Heung Yee Kuk chairman and lawmaker Kenneth Lau Ip-keung.
…”When the housing supply was not sufficient in 2018 and 2019, many friends thought it was not a big deal if the government took back a small part of the land,” said Lau, a member of the Hong Kong Golf Club.
“But now they feel regret after the government actually did so, as the Hong Kong Golf Club had hosted a lot of great competitions on the land over the past two years.”
…”Some people actively pushed the government to take back the land in 2018 and 2019 as they were trying to divide society,” he said.
“But our society is advancing from stability to prosperity now and harmonious development is what we need to achieve prosperity. I believe the government could make a wiser decision.”
Not only that – the HK Golf Club would like taxpayers’ money while we’re at it…
The administration should reconsider whether Fanling Golf Course is the optimal location for constructing a public housing estate, according to captain Andy Kwok Wing-leung.
Speaking to a small group briefing, Kwok, the captain of the Hong Kong Golf Club, emphasized the significant economic benefits brought by the three-day LIV Golf tournament held at the course last month.
“The game was broadcast live to over 500 million families all over the world, with video clips about the tournament on social media hitting 24 million views,” he said.
…However, he noted the financial burden and post-game responsibilities taken on by the club, lamenting the lack of government support despite receiving an “M” mark status and subsidy for the tournament.
…Kwok appealed to the government for financial subsidies to facilitate the sustainable organization of more mega golf events.
He acknowledged the need for improvements to course facilities to meet the LIV Golf requirements but urged the government to retain the course for hosting additional mega events, as they would yield greater financial benefits for Hong Kong compared to constructing public housing estates.
Kwok also called for the return of management rights for a 32-hectare land at the course, which was reclaimed by the government last September for public leisure use, to enable the club to hold more mega golf events.
If the pro-golf folk were smarter, they would more blatantly pander to officials’ obsession with attracting rich white tourists to Hong Kong. They hint at it – ‘mega events’, ‘high-spending visitors’ and those half billion families – but it is obvious they are mainly determined to protect their own privileges and notoriously tedious pastime. (In previous arguments against using a small part of the course for housing, they have shown a curious concern with hydrological impacts and the preservation of swamp cypress trees.)
As it is, the government appears unimpressed, and unwilling to revisit its plans (though the amount of housing the site will yield won’t make much difference in the grand scheme of things). It’s almost as if someone in the post-2020 power structure – perhaps a Mainland advisor, definitely a non-golfer – sees the issue as a symbolic opportunity for the government to serve the masses.
Or perhaps some desperate mainlander eager to get his hoard out of China and into the Tokyo property market?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68761514
Golf: Absolutely, definitely the worst vehicle to use to try to convince people you’re for the “little man” or sympathetic to “the plight of the masses”.
Does someone give these people special training in the art of specious argumentation? “Mega events … would yield greater financial benefits for Hong Kong compared to constructing public housing estates”. This may well be true, but the purpose of constructing public housing is not to rake in cash. By this logic, perhaps we should turn all Hong Kong’s public hospitals and schools into golf courses as well?
As for “Some people actively pushed the government to take back the land in 2018 and 2019 as they were trying to divide society”, is he hinting that anyone who proposes an alternative use for golf courses should face prosecution under the NSL? That is absolute nonsense. Hong Kong has a limited supply of land, so discussion of the relative merits of different potential uses for it is perfectly legitimate.
The nice thing about golf is that it gives White men the opportunity to dress like Black men.
Hurrah!
@Nutty
I’ve not seen too many white golfer folks walking round with their trousers half-way down there 4rses, or wearing ridiculous amounts of bling. Could you supply some evidence to back up your statement?
“Kwok appealed to the government for financial subsidies to facilitate the sustainable organization of more mega golf events … but urged the government to retain the course for hosting additional mega events, as they would yield greater financial benefits for Hong Kong.”
Pick a lane, Capt. Kwok: do Saudi-backed golf events make you so utterly destitute you have to get the government to bail you out or do they make you lots of money?
HYK is looking for win win, keep their private club and have the government develop agricultural lots nearby that are further off the beaten track. This would require costly public expenditure on extensive infrastructure enabling Kukkers to then build private estates with minimal expenditure.
Ken is embolden by the rewriting of the Yuen Long mob attack on defenceless communters to a gang rumble to describe supporters for the PH plan as agitators. That the PH plan is a government initiative is conveniently sidelined. Narratives are flexible.
As for the golf club, now it wants the majority who have zero interest in the sport, to foot the bill for events like the LIV that we were told was “expected to generate about US$40 million”. So, if we end up paying for these events where are the benefits?
A classic example of the heads we win, tails you lose, ingrained economic formula that is the core reason why a large pool of residents cannot afford decent housing.
Reactor #4
Stop looking at the big black buns. It’s bad for your health.
The golf courses should be preserved for the benefit of future generations. The critical question is who gets to enjoy them.
Does Songkran with Hong Kong characteristics qualify as a Mega Event?
https://hongkongfp.com/2024/04/08/after-arrests-in-2023-hong-kongs-songkran-water-splashing-festival-moved-off-the-streets/
@Mike Grouse: Most definitely. Would bring mega millions $$$ in bennies to HK as well. Win-win!