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Historical Background

Human settlement on Lantau Island could be traced back to the Northern Sung Dynasty as a famous
salt production base and later on a fishing centre and agricultural base. Two declared monuments in
Tung Chung, namely Tung Chung Fort (Figure 5) and Tung Chung Battery which was built in 1729 and
1817 respectively, witnessed the once strategic location of Lantau as a defence point at the southern
tip of Pearl River Estuary. There are also three sites of archaeological interest, namely Tung Chung
Game Board Carving Site of Archaeological Interest, Fu Tei Wan Kiln (relocated to Tung Chung) Site of
Archaeological Interest and Ma Wan Chung Site of Archaeological Interest and a Grade 2 historic building,
namely Tin Hau Temple in Wong Lung Hang within Tung Chung New Town.

Figure 5: Tung Chung Fort

Planning Concept

Following the completion of the Port and Airport Development Strategy (PADS), the Government
decided in October 1989 to build a replacement international airport at Chek Lap Kok. The PADS also
recommended the development of the North Lantau New Town (NLNT) as a supporting community of the
new international airport. The Government commissioned Consultants to carry out planning of the NLNT
and detailed feasibility studies collectively known as the North Lantau Development Study (NLDS). The
planning intention is to develop the New Town into a hub of providing commercial, cultural, community
and recreational activities serving the Tung Chung and the wider area of Lantau Island. Lying at the
strategic location near the Hong Kong International Airport, the New Town also plays an important role as
the ‘Gateway of Hong Kong’.

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