Hong Kong Plans to Relocate Unpopular Utilities Underground

Photo by Chong Fat/Wikipedia

In order to free up more land for housing and economic development, Hong Kong is looking at relocating some of it’s more unpopular utilities underground in artificial caverns.

Two feasibility studies are being undertaken to develop guidelines for the future relocation of infrastructure such as sewage treatment plants, fuel storage depots and garbage transfer stations.

The first step will be identifying suitable rock caverns to house the more than 400 utilities desired to be moved. Already five spots, two-thirds of the Hong Kong’s hilly areas, have been identified as suitable locations.

One of the many other goals of the studies, which are expected to cost $100 million Hong Kong dollars (12.8 million USD), will specifically look into the feasibility of moving the Sha Tin sewage treatment plant into a cavern, leaving the current 28-hectare site available for future housing development.

According to officials, the plans have been well received by the public, “except for residents who could be affected by some projects.”

Studies to test feasibility of cave projects [South China Morning Post]