LaDA Newsletter 8th Issue: Event Review
Meeting with Sustainable Lantau Office
LaDA has been dedicated for the development of Lantau Island, and thus continuously monitoring the significant projects in the surrounding areas, including the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands. On February 23, 2023, our members met with the Sustainable Lantau Office, not only gaining a comprehensive understanding of the project’s development plans, but also engaging in profound discussions regarding the transportation connectivity between the artificial islands and Lantau. Furthermore, we have explored its strategic role with regards to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Artificial Island, HKIA SkyCity, and Tung Chung New Town Extension. The alliance aspires to foster close collaboration among the regions thus transforming Lantau into a pivotal tourism and transportation hub within the Greater Bay Area.
Discovery Bay Visit
On March 9, 2023, Mr.Simon Tu, Vice Chairman of the Alliance and General Manager, DB Operations, Hong Kong Resort Company Limited, invited our members to visit Discovery Bay. Located in the northeastern part of Lantau Island, Discovery Bay is a picturesque area that offers a wide range of residential projects, hotels, yacht clubs, golf courses, ice rinks, and various leisure, entertainment, and dining facilities. It is a diverse and green living community with abundant natural beauty.
On the day of the event, Simon warmly welcomed the alliance members to the group’s upscale and exquisite Cantonese restaurant, “Peony Chinese Restaurant”. He also provided an overview of Discovery Bay’s business and the latest developments. Following that, a meticulously planned itinerary unfolded, which included visits to the Discovery Bay Ferry, Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong, the internationally standardized “DB Ice Rink” and the new project “IL PICCO”. The alliance members also had the opportunity to visit the “Discovery Bay Greenhouse” and learn about the community’s green living initiatives and measures, such as urban farming, food waste recycling and horse manure composting programs.
Our members got a deeper understanding of Discovery Bay’s core position as a diverse leisure and tourism hub in Lantau, and everyone was awed by its rich culture and entertainment.
Meeting with Airport Authority
In order to gain insights into the latest development plan for Hong Kong International Airport, the alliance conducted a visit to the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) on April 13, 2023. During the visit, the AAHK provided an overview of the airport’s new facilities to the participants, which encompassed the Sky Bridge, the pioneering unmanned convenience store “Travelwell,” self-service boarding facilities, the second-generation Integrated Airport Centre (IAC), virtual reality training center, Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, and autonomous driving system, among other ground-breaking technologies. Additionally, AAHK was optimistic towards the recovery of passenger flows in the post-pandemic era, anticipating that this resurgence would serve as a catalyst for further fostering the thriving development of the tourism industry on Lantau Island.
LaDA Annual General Meeting 2023
The alliance’s highly anticipated 2023 Annual General Meeting was convened on September 7 at the Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott Hotel. Apart from reviewing the initiatives and achievements of the Alliance’s throughout the year, it also featured a talk by Mr. Simon Lee, Honorary Fellow of Asia Pacific Institute of Business, CUHK Business School, who delivered his expert insights on the post-pandemic resurgence of the tourism industry. His sharing enriched our members with novel perspectives and strategic inspiration, which empowered them to formulate progressive and forward-looking developmental strategies for the forthcoming year. Our members envisage a resilient recovery of the tourism sector, primed to inject renewed vitality into Hong Kong’s economic landscape.
Please find the event highlight video from the link below:
11 SKIES Development Tour
11 SKIES is an integral part of SKYCITY in the Hong Kong International Airport, covering 3.8 million square feet. Together with its Grade A office building, K11 ATELIER, they will be completed by phases from 2022 to 2025. On 6 December 2023, our members were given an exclusive preview of the cutting-edge shopping mall, the highly anticipated KidZania Hong Kong entertainment center, modern open offices, and the integrated SkyCity transportation hub. The entertainment, retail, and diverse dining options will be gradually launched between 2024 and 2025, offering a dynamic and captivating consumer experience.
11 SKIES is adjacent to the Terminal 2 of Hong Kong International Airport which is scheduled for reopening in 2024. Once the “Airport City Link” autonomous transport system is launched, it will connect the 2,800 parking spaces of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Boundary Crossing Facilities, as well as the town centre of Tung Chung within 8 to 10 minutes. AsiaWorld-Expo and Regala Skycity Hotel are now reachable within 3 mins via a pedestrian bridge from 11 SKIES. The Sky City Transportation Hub, located on the ground floor, offers 16 dedicated bus routes covering various districts of Hong Kong. Additionally, the “360 Lantau Sightseeing Bus” shuttles between Ngong Ping 360 and various landmarks on Lantau Island.
Sky City is poised to evolve into a vibrant hub seamlessly integrating tourism, business, and leisure, fulfilling the vision LaDA has been fostering for the development of Lantau over the past decade.
Supporting HKTDC promoting Chill 11 cultural and creative event
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) launched Chill 11 at AsiaWorld-Expo from December 23 to 26, 2023. With approximately 170 exhibitors from culture, art, gastronomy, and entertainment, they showcased local brands and designs, providing a deeper understanding of Hong Kong’s cultural heritage to the visitors. LaDA collaborated with the HKTDC to promote this premiere event to our members, and featured dedicated display panels at the venue to highlight the unique attractions and green tourism offerings of Lantau.
Website Revamp
LaDA’s website was revamped in early 2024. The new website showcases a dedicated “Exciting Tourism” section offering personalized travel itineraries highlighting Lantau’s natural landscapes, historical and cultural sites. Visitors can explore unique travel routes tailored to their interests. The website also includes an “Events” section where users can get to know more about LaDA by reviewing past activities.
Promoting local employment has been LaDA’s vision. To assist our members recruiting employees from the district, the “Job Opportunities” section was also enhanced to show up-to-date and comprehensive vacancies info, which are delivered to the Tung Chung residents through the synchronized TV panels at Labour Department’s Tung Chung Job Centre and OIWA’s main office.
