The Hong Kong Airport Authority’s recently unveiled “Skytopia” mega-project, with its HK$100 billion (US$12.9 billion) price tag and promise of an arts hub, gourmet market and yacht marina, shows that the government is seriously misreading public sentiment.
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For one thing, affordable and good-quality goods and services are increasingly important to people. Take the Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek, for example. Its open-source AI platform that was developed at a fraction of the cost of leading US models but can perform at levels comparable to them has stunned the world – so much so that, soon after its launch, Wall Street witnessed one of the largest single-day declines in tech stocks.
Other such products include Chinese-made electric vehicles, which are selling well in many countries because of their good quality at lower prices.
The attraction of affordability and quality is not lost on Hong Kong residents, who are crossing the border to Shenzhen in increasing numbers for shopping, dining and even medical services that are cheap and good.
With its Skytopia plan, the government has chosen to ignore these clear preferences. Under the development blueprint, the Chek Lap Kok site will be transformed into an airport city with an arts hub, a 600-berth marina for yachts, the city’s largest water recreation area and a gourmet seafood market. It also features the cluster of offices, shops, hotel and entertainment facilities the Airport Authority has named Skycity.
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The entire project is envisioned to be a landmark in Asia, boasting of tourism, cultural, entertainment and commercial facilities unrivalled by other aviation centres. It can be summed up in two words: “good” and “expensive”.
