Discovery Bay developer submits proposal for full taxi access despite backlash

The developer of Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay has proposed allowing unrestricted taxi access and adding four new ranks in the resort-style seaside community on Lantau Island, submitting a paper to the District Council despite recent resident backlash.

In the paper submitted to the Islands District Council, Hong Kong Resort Company said the current lack of point-to-point public transport “severely impacts residents’ daily lives” and that it had received hundreds of messages of support for the unlimited taxi access proposal.

The company said existing restrictions limiting taxi access to Discovery Bay’s North Plaza created “significant transport barriers”, particularly for the elderly, those in poor health, people with mobility difficulties, carers with children, travellers with bulky luggage and late-night commuters.

Under its proposal, the company said it planned to allow urban and Lantau taxis to enter other areas of Discovery Bay and build new ranks at Discovery Bay Fire Station, Nim Shue Wan Kaito Pier, Discovery Bay Golf Club and Discovery Bay Multi-Recreation Centre.

A traffic monitoring system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) would be used to detect taxi drivers’ behaviour such as speeding, illegal overtaking and illegal parking, it added.

Hong Kong Resort Company also proposed “optimised pedestrian crossing facilities” near the four new taxi ranks to ensure the safety of schoolchildren and pedestrians.