Monks to Seal off Hong Kong Buddhist Temple to Protest Tourism Plans
HONG KONG (AP) -- Monks at a Buddhist monastery on a scenic Hong Kong island will close their temple to the public for a week to protest plans for a cable car and other tourism attractions they fear will disrupt the tranquility of their sanctuary. The Po Lin monastery on Lantau Island announced in ads published Tuesday in Chinese and English language newspapers that it will not admit visitors from Oct. 25 to 31 — a move intended to "arouse the government's concern." The government intends to build a 750 million Hong Kong dollars (US$96 million) cable car line linking the territory's subway system and airport with the isolated, picturesque plateau where the monastery and a big Buddha image are located. Access now is limited by the monastery's remote location and the infrequency of public bus and ferry services serving the area. The cable car link, capable of carrying up to 5,000 passengers an hour, is expected to begin operating in 2006. The monastery has also vehemently opposed plans to build a tourism plaza in front of its main entrance. "To meet the commercial needs of the cable car business, our religious role and duties will be seriously diminished and affected," the monastery's ad said. It said the temporary closure was intended to defend "the dignity of Buddhism" and to "protect trees, roads, artifacts, tranquility and the natural environment." The government said it would respect the monastery's decision but hoped the impact on visitors would be kept to a minimum. Planners want to turn Lantau, known as the Island of Prayers with around 300 Buddhist monasteries, into a tourism haven. A US$3.55 billion Disneyland theme park is under construction on the island's east cost. The Economic Development and Labor Bureau said it would take the opinions of local representatives, the monastery and other groups as it reviews a draft plan due to be submitted for final government approval after at least nine months.
HONG KONG (AP) -- Monks at a Buddhist monastery on a scenic Hong Kong island will close their temple to the public for a week to protest plans for a cable car and other tourism attractions they fear will disrupt the tranquility of their sanctuary. The Po Lin monastery on Lantau Island announced in ads published Tuesday in Chinese and English language newspapers that it will not admit visitors from Oct. 25 to 31 — a move intended to "arouse the government's concern." The government intends to build a 750 million Hong Kong dollars (US$96 million) cable car line linking the territory's subway system and airport with the isolated, picturesque plateau where the monastery and a big Buddha image are located. Access now is limited by the monastery's remote location and the infrequency of public bus and ferry services serving the area. The cable car link, capable of carrying up to 5,000 passengers an hour, is expected to begin operating in 2006. The monastery has also vehemently opposed plans to build a tourism plaza in front of its main entrance. "To meet the commercial needs of the cable car business, our religious role and duties will be seriously diminished and affected," the monastery's ad said. It said the temporary closure was intended to defend "the dignity of Buddhism" and to "protect trees, roads, artifacts, tranquility and the natural environment." The government said it would respect the monastery's decision but hoped the impact on visitors would be kept to a minimum. Planners want to turn Lantau, known as the Island of Prayers with around 300 Buddhist monasteries, into a tourism haven. A US$3.55 billion Disneyland theme park is under construction on the island's east cost. The Economic Development and Labor Bureau said it would take the opinions of local representatives, the monastery and other groups as it reviews a draft plan due to be submitted for final government approval after at least nine months.