Only a third of Hong Kong residents have confidence in the economic benefits of a HK$580 billion (US$73.9 billion) government plan to create three artificial islands off Lantau and more than half were not optimistic about the success of the scheme’s proposed business district, a survey by an environmental group has found.

An academic on Wednesday said the findings of the Greenpeace poll, which had more than 1,000 responses, were in line with earlier surveys, and confirmed a majority of the public opposed the plan.

“The poll results show that mainstream opinion has concerns and does not support the project,” Chan Hall-sion, Greenpeace’s senior campaigner, said.