Lantau island is the biggest island in Hong Kong SAR. It includes famous places such as the world's largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha, Hong Kong airport, Disneyland resort, rural town Mui Wo and traditional Tai O village.
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In year 2006, Buddhist monks at the Po Lin Monastery discussed
with the government for obtaining a discount on charges required for the development rights to a
piece of land inside the monastery.
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| Po Lin monastery |
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Monks planned to build a multimillion-dollar exhibition hall as part of their campaign to attract more tourists. It shall see the demolition of part of the existing main hall and a new extension shall be added to house an exhibition hall and a library of Buddhist scripts.
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Po Lin monastery vegetarian lunches are very famous.
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| Po Lin monastery |
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For the people whose demand cannot be satisfied by the schedule of a ferry service or
the residents living in remote villages which aren't covered by any ferry service,
small row boats or "sampans" have always been the only choice.
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| Remote House |
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The law outlawed the use of sampans in these areas as the legal requirements are that operators have to be licensed and have to ply only specific routes and destinations.
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Monasteries, temples and retreats on Lantau have become the latest target of thieves,
who break into abbeys to loot alms and donations from worshippers.
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| Remote Monastery |
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In first half of year 2008, nine break-ins happened on Lantau.
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Thieves prey on mainly unattended retreats. They steal everything they find, such as
alms from donation boxes and valuables at altars.
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| Remote Monastery |
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The numerous temples enhances Lantau's image as the Island of Prayer.
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Lantau was once known as the Island of Prayer, with 135 monasteries in the 1970s.
There are still many working and tranquil monasteries nowadays.
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| Remote Monastery |
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Lantau is Hong Kong's biggest and greenest island.
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An increase in tourists is expected on Lantau after the Tung Chung
cable car opening. The cable car shall allow going from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping village,
close to the Po Lin monastery.
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| Tung Chung |
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Some potential developments such as the Zhuhai-Macau-Hong Kong Bridge landing on the Lantau north coast,
a Logistics Park, a container terminal off northwest Lantau could significantly transform the island.
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| Tung Chung abandoned houses |
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Car circulation on Lantau island is restricted. Local inhabitants need to have a specific car permit to drive on Lantau island. Blue taxis are only allowed on Lantau island.
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Many expats move to Lantau for the space, clean air and nature. Many people
fight against uncontrolled and unsustainable development.
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| Tung Chung |
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On Lantau island, car circulation is restricted and roads are limited. So some remote settlements in Lantau need to be rescued by helicopter-ambulances.
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A local policy allows every indigenous male villager to build a three-storey house on a 700 sq ft
plot. It has seen the population of the once remote island expand noticeably. Many believe it is
leading directly to the destruction of the natural attractions that made Lantau so attractive.
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| Village house |
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Click to see more pictures |
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