HK’s artificial islands could create 340,000 jobs

It is hoped that the artificial islands will provide space to ease Hong Kong's lack of housing.
By: | October 15, 2018
Topics: Asia-Pacific | Hong Kong | News

Hong Kong’s ‘Lantau Tomorrow Vision’ could create some 340,000 jobs over the next 20 to 30 years.

As unveiled by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, ‘Lantau Tomorrow Vision’ is the territory’s plan to create artificial islands and turn them into a double gateway to the world.

The aim is to build artificial islands around Lantau, the Hong Kong’s largest island, and to construct houses, and other infrastructure on these islands, and thus ease overcrowding in the territory.

Reclamation works are due to begin in 2025.

With the islands having a total area of about 1,700 hectares, they could provide up to 400,000 residential units for around 1.1 million people – and some 340,000 jobs over the next 20 to 30 years.

Hong Kong’s jobless rate in the three months to August 2018 remains unchanged at a 20-year low of 2.8%.

The territory’s underemployment rate was also steady at 1.1%, the same as in the previous period.