The Government said today it respects the High Court's move to grant an interim stay of the decision by the Director of Environmental Protection to approve an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the partial development of the Fanling Golf Course.

The Government made the statement in response to media enquiries on the court’s decision.

It pointed out that the court had made it clear that the Civil Engineering & Development Department would not be prevented from conducting a review on housing density and layout to fulfill the approval conditions of the EIA report.

The Government emphasised that it will reclaim 32 hectares of land east of Fan Kam Road at the Fanling Golf Course on September 1 as scheduled.

The Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau has announced venue management and opening arrangements. The Town Planning Board will proceed with ongoing statutory town planning procedures