Lawmakers link new arrangement to diversification

Lawmakers Sio Chi Wai and Ho Ion Sang have appealed to the government to make use of the marine management rights granted by Beijing to realize the MSAR goal of long-term prosperity through economic diversification.
A day after the region was notified of the much sought-after autonomy over its surrounding waters, several lawmakers raised the topic at yesterday’s Legislative Assembly meeting.
Sio called upon the government to advance the development of the relevant regulations for governing activities in the waters. He suggested that the government extend its tourism efforts to the city’s rim, taking reference from other international cities. The lawmaker also said that it was a high time to map out a blueprint in response to the demand for land use, working from a macroscopic perspective.
Another lawmaker believed that the government would now be able to deal with the flooding at the Inner Harbor and the Duck Channel areas, which has long plagued residents there.
Ho also believed that, under the five-year development plan earlier announced by the government, authorities would be obligated to exploit the 85 square kilometers of marine area, in which gaming-related facilities are prohibited.
“To grasp such an opportunity bestowed by the central government, the government has to push for greater economic diversification, stronger efforts targeting citizens’ livelihood and the development of non-gaming elements,” he said. AU