Upgrades under way in NM rural tourism boost: govt

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said improvement works of sewerage systems were already under way at villages, but stressed that officials needed to prioritise projects to ensure maximum efficiency.

She made the remarks at a Legco development panel on Tuesday during which lawmakers discussed the Northern Metropolis project.

While they generally voiced support for government efforts to promote more tourism projects in the rural areas, some also said village infrastructure, especially sewerage systems, needs to be improved urgently.

“We’ve identified around 40 to 50 villages. While we’re working on improving the sewerage systems in new development areas, we can also carry out upgrades in these villages in batches,” Linn told legislators.

“As for exactly how many batches there will be and how to proceed practically, we still need to make arrangements.”

When asked if the government would acquire private land that includes the village sewerage system to make future maintenance and management easier, Linn said officials would need to consider each scenario on a case-by-case basis.

As part of efforts to promote “urban-rural integration”, officials are proposing to launch a HK$200 million fund to encourage non-governmental organisations to take forward rural tourism projects.

Through this fund, successful applicants can receive up to HK$10 million per project to restore historic rural structures – such as ancestral halls, former schools or village houses – and convert them into art hubs and exhibition spaces.

Operators will be allowed to run businesses on site, including restaurants, bookshops and retail shops, to help generate revenue.

Linn said all projects must run for at least three years.

“For example, for a certain project we require it to operate for at least three years. For some other projects, we may even set the bar higher.

“If the operators cease operations before the required period, we will use that as a starting point to issue penalties, or ask for our money back.

“The reason for setting this requirement is because this involves private land. We cannot control it, and there is nothing we can do if they really cease operations. Unlike government land, we cannot simply retrieve it.”

Officials hope to seek funding approval for the HK$200 million fund from the Legco Finance Committee in the final quarter of this year.

Edited by Edmond Fong ...