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the proposal - the Hong Kong Mountain Bike Association

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<strong>the</strong> taI Mo shan<br />

MountaIn resort<br />

vIllage<br />

The growth of <strong>Mountain</strong> biking has spawned an increase in <strong>Mountain</strong> bike parks<br />

and resorts worldwide, this is <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> opportunity to become <strong>the</strong> hub for asian<br />

<strong>Mountain</strong> biking<br />

During this reconnaissance it became apparent that <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> has <strong>the</strong> opportunity and natural resources<br />

to create a mountain resort on Tai Mo Shan, that would equal <strong>the</strong> summer resorts of Whistler in British<br />

Columbia, Mammoth <strong>Mountain</strong>, Lake Tahoe in <strong>the</strong> USA and <strong>the</strong> many mountain biking resorts in <strong>the</strong><br />

Italian and French Alps. The potential of this ambitious development is enormous. It foresees trails spiralling<br />

down from <strong>the</strong> summit of Tai Mo Shan and <strong>the</strong> development of a fully equipped mountain resort<br />

village at Shek <strong>Kong</strong> with a mountain tramway, hotels and all <strong>the</strong> supporting facilities. The project would<br />

utilize <strong>the</strong> natural terrain and topography of <strong>the</strong> area and initial inquiries indicate that investment capital<br />

is available to fund <strong>the</strong> majority of <strong>the</strong> hospitality infrastructure require. Thus for a relatively minor investment<br />

we have <strong>the</strong> opportunity to develop Tai Mo Shan and <strong>the</strong> neighbouring area of Shek <strong>Kong</strong> into a<br />

major mountain recreation centre, just 30 minutes from <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong>’s central business district. Creating<br />

thousands of jobs in a forgotten and depressed corner of <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> and generating billions of dollars in<br />

revenue whilst positioning <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> as <strong>the</strong> “coolest” gateway city in Asia.<br />

We have created <strong>the</strong> possibility to have a world class mountain resort village on Tai Mo Shan, and transform<br />

<strong>the</strong> sleepy village of Shek <strong>Kong</strong> into a “Whistler” style resort village. This will be achieved by utilizing<br />

selected abandoned trails and paths, plus creating new routes in unused and inaccessible areas to<br />

create a variety of trails. The project will feature World Cup level Cross country and Downhill <strong>Mountain</strong><br />

<strong>Bike</strong> trails, real “concrete free” hiking trails, heritage trails, a mountain biking academy, and a variety of<br />

recreational activities all in <strong>the</strong> context of “pushing <strong>the</strong> envelope” of mountain/countryside recreation.<br />

This is a huge step forward for <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong>.<br />

The Tai Mo Shan/Shek <strong>Kong</strong> resort will appeal to beginners, advanced enthusiasts, spectators plus o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

visitors, mountain bikers, hikers and nature lovers. The au<strong>the</strong>nticity of <strong>the</strong> offerings will be a lure for<br />

even <strong>the</strong> most nervous hiker, we will see new generations of users taking a more adventurous path because<br />

of <strong>the</strong> professional design and safety considerations. Once approved <strong>the</strong> project will attract investors,<br />

hotel developers and eventually thousands of visitors, as in Whistler and o<strong>the</strong>r resorts; <strong>the</strong>se visitors<br />

will spend money, purchase bikes and a host of o<strong>the</strong>r products and services, plus create thousands of jobs<br />

and invigorate an o<strong>the</strong>rwise depressed area of <strong>the</strong> New Territories. The benefits of this project are vast, if<br />

handled appropriately this project could turn <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong> into <strong>the</strong> Asian destination for World Cup <strong>Mountain</strong><br />

Biking events as well as o<strong>the</strong>r related activities and fur<strong>the</strong>r reinforce <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong>’s image as THE city<br />

in Asia.<br />

With such a project <strong>the</strong>re will be multiple obstacles to be overcome and this is not a project for <strong>the</strong> faint<br />

hearted. It will require leadership, vision and will power to make it a reality; listed below are suggestions<br />

as to what is required to complete this project:<br />

1. Appoint a Master Planner who will oversee <strong>the</strong> life of <strong>the</strong> project and develop <strong>the</strong> ongoing leadership<br />

and resources to maintain <strong>the</strong> resort.<br />

2. A detailed survey by a professional and experienced mountain bike park operator such as Gravity Logic<br />

(<strong>the</strong> operators of <strong>the</strong> Whistler <strong>Bike</strong> Park) needs to be commissioned, which will survey <strong>the</strong> topography<br />

of <strong>the</strong> area in order to map out <strong>the</strong> exact trail routes for downhill, freeride and cross-country mountain<br />

biking and o<strong>the</strong>r activities. Entry and Exit points will be located.<br />

3. Agreement by <strong>the</strong> PLA to re-locate <strong>the</strong>ir units from <strong>the</strong> Route Twisk Barracks to <strong>the</strong> Shek <strong>Kong</strong> airfield<br />

barracks 2 kilometers away. There appears to be adequate space and facilities for this to be achieved<br />

with minimum disruption to <strong>the</strong>ir operations and may even streamline <strong>the</strong>ir operation.<br />

4. A survey and plan for <strong>the</strong> re-development of <strong>the</strong> existing PLA barracks straddling Route Twisk into <strong>the</strong><br />

resort of Shek <strong>Kong</strong>, with sites for hotels, apartments and o<strong>the</strong>r accommodations and all <strong>the</strong> facilities<br />

required for a bustling tourism community.<br />

5. A survey for <strong>the</strong> creating of a tram or cable car travelling from Shek <strong>Kong</strong>, from <strong>the</strong> heart of <strong>the</strong> resort<br />

to <strong>the</strong> summit of Tai Mop Shan. It is envisaged that this project might utilise <strong>Hong</strong> <strong>Kong</strong>’s existing<br />

expertise in tram design and recreate a Peak Tram on Tai Mo Shan. This would be an obvious solution<br />

ra<strong>the</strong>r than import expertise from overseas as was done on <strong>the</strong> Lantua Cable Car. The Peak Tram has,<br />

for over a century, provided safe and convenient access from central to <strong>the</strong> Peak, up similar inclines as<br />

Tai Mo Shan.

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