The Environmental Protection Department yesterday said the approval would depend on whether the project's proponent, the Civil Engineering and Development Department, will revise its layout plan to preserve about 0.4 hectares of woodland in the northernmost part of the site.

HKGA chief Danny Lai Yee-june said on a radio program this morning that Hong Kong has relatively fewer golfing facilities when compared to nearby areas, and in which the land resumption would run contrary to authorities' own sports policies.
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He said the Fanling Golf Course was used by some 400,000 to 500,000 people each year, with 40 percent being non-members.

Lai noted that the land resumption would affect the non-members most and would also be detrimental to Hong Kong’s promotion of golf to the community and its elite athlete training.

He added that up to 70 percent of golf competitions in the territory were carried out at the Fanling site.

Meanwhile, speaking on the same program, DAB lawmaker Edward Lau Kwok-fan raised concerns about the environmental impact assessment report on the golf course, saying that authorities should gather public opinion and explain to the public how the housing plan would integrate with the Northern Metropolis Development, and if there are any ancillary transport facilities.