by HKURBEX.
Welcome to the “Last Resort” – the utopian paradise on the edge of Hong Kong which never quite was.
Once a budding 1970s luxury residential project, the development is now more or less a ghost town, save for a handful of residents who managed to hang on against all odds.
The project was the result of an overly ambitious developer’s plan which ended up crash-landing when demand for the luxury residences failed to materialise. The dream fell apart following years of litigation and legal bickering.
The holding company had to write off debts so was apparently sold to apartment owners for HK$1 .
The HK$40 million resort thrived for a short period, with some of the 200 seaview apartments snapped up.
Promoted at the 1975 Hong Kong Ideal Homes Exhibition and launched in 1979, the original marketing brochure promised a “self-contained community with every luxury” and there was even an odd music video shot on site. Aimed at an upmarket clientele, the resort featured contemporary apartments, a man-made beach, plus an amenity-packed clubhouse with restaurants, cocktail lounges, saunas, a nursery, two swimming pools and tennis courts – all hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
However, there was little public appetite to cover the huge overheads of the visionary project. The developer accrued HK$7 million of debt in just four years from its inauguration and, after disagreements caused the residents to split from the management committee, they were left to fend for themselves. Meeting basic needs became inconvenient due to its secluded location.
See also: HKFP History: A 1970s ‘Post-Apocalyptic Discovery Bay’
In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the resort, with several units undergoing refurbishment and a few residents moving there. However, they are few and far between, and current residents at the private resort have to ferry in all their supplies and face a long and limited commute to the city. There is also no internet and limited power from generators.
In addition, many of the residences are also still dilapidated and the clubhouse has deteriorated into an irrecoverable state of disrepair.
Like an accidental time capsule, unread books still sit on shelves gathering dust while reserved tables sit empty, waiting for diners that will never come.
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