(March 9, 2017) The Lantau Development Alliance (LaDA) today announced the election of Spencer Au, consultant of Global Sources, as the new chairman of LaDA. Vincent Chua, general manager of Hong Kong Resort Company Ltd., was elected as vice chairman of LaDA. Au and Chua will assume their roles starting from May 21, 2017.

LaDA was established by its ten founding members in 2013 to advocate the formation of a long-term development blueprint for Lantau and to help develop a bridgehead economy on the island. LaDA’s vision also includes the implementation of sustainable economic development plans and the creation of employment opportunities. Starting from the new term of office, LaDA will take a more active approach in putting forward Lantau’s development blueprint, such as making substantive proposals in relation to the blueprint’s execution. Moving forward, LaDA will focus its works on three key areas:

1. Leveraging opportunities to be brought about by a bridgehead economy that drive the sustainable development of Lantau while balancing development and conservation. In order to develop Lantau into a community favorable for living, work, business, leisure and study and to maximize synergy, a holistic plan is needed for different development proposals, ranging from land use to connectivity. Close communication between the government, the community and the commercial sector is essential to ensure a cohesive plan. Based on the solid collaboration between the community and commercial sectors established in the past years, LaDA will step up efforts to consolidate the views of its members and put them forward to the government.
2. With tourism and meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) being core to Lantau’s development, LaDA will unite industry operators to enhance the overall attractiveness of Lantau as a tourist destination, boost green tourism and outdoor activities, as well as foster South Lantau as a sustainable leisure tourism area.
3. By conducting research, LaDA will present substantive proposals to the government to enhance intra-island connectivity, which will be critical to the development of Lantau. Objectives in the medium term are to strengthen point-to-point connections and establish an appropriate public transportation network. The absence of point-to-point connections has hindered the transportation of residents and tourists to commercial and tourism destinations on the island.

As Lantau continues to grow, LaDA is confident about the exponential opportunities and the role it will play in contributing to the economy of the island and the territory as a whole. Through these new work focuses, LaDA will strive to be more effective in supporting and driving the development of Lantau by generating and providing substantive proposals in various aspects of work.