Mui Wo's rural character will be enriched under a plan to make it a leisure centre, the Planning Department says.

Mui Wo is an historic township endowed with a rich cultural heritage and unique features, such as watchtowers and caves.

To capture its special character, and to create a delightful and relaxing place for people to enjoy the area's natural beauty and rustic charm, the department has proposed a leisure-historic-rural-township theme for the area.

In the short and medium term, Mui Wo Old Town's waterfront and streetscape will be enhanced with traditional streetlights and paving.

Mui Wo Town Square will be extended to offer alfresco dining, a flea market, festival performances and other local events, alongside shops and sitting-out areas with lush greenery.

More facilities

A pier entrance plaza is suggested for Mui Wo Ferry Pier. Sitting-out areas, visitor facilities and a venue for gathering and special events can be incorporated in the design.

The area of cooked-food stalls will be redeveloped into restaurants to optimise the sea view and create alfresco dinning or open-air cafes.

There will be a waterfront promenade south of the ferry pier along the seawall. The large tree near the Mui Wo Centre will be retained as a local landmark, while more trees and shaded seating will be provided. A bicycling track and a heritage trail will connect scattered points of interest in the Mui Wo hinterland.

In the long term, more recreational facilities, like a marina and watersports centre, a botanical garden and nature education centre, a local galley at Yuen's Family Compound and the reopening of Silvermine Cave, have been proposed to boost Mui Wo's recreational potential.

These preliminary proposals are subject to further feasibility studies.