The government is expected to be spending HK$3.5 million to build a fishing zone in Central, following suggestions made by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying.
The proposed angling zone at the Central promenade will be around 200 square metres, according to a paper on the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s “pilot scheme on angling zones.”
Construction costs are expected to be HK$3.5 million while regular expenses every year are estimated at HK$900,000. Construction will commence in October 2016; it is scheduled to be completed and opened to the public in March. If the public responds well to the pilot scheme, the LCSD said it will consider setting up more angling zones.
Leung made the suggestion in a blog post promoting water activities in March, saying “angling is one of the activities that Hong Kong people love, and everyone can take part in the sport with a budget that suits them.”
Leung said that he spoke to three members of an angling association about setting up angling zones and thus made the proposals in his policy address. He also said that three angling zones will be set up by next year, at the earliest, by the LCSD in Central, Tsang Yi and Tai Po.
“I only went angling three times last year… I look forward to enjoying our beautiful harbour with you all in a new way when the angling zones are established,” Leung said.
In the same blog post, Leung also suggested that office workers could go swimming in the Central harbour.
