Discovery Bay

This article is on the area in Hong Kong. For other communities, see: Discovery Bay, California or Discovery Bay, Jamaica.

Discovery Bay (愉景灣; pinyin yú jǐng wān; Cantonese yue ging wan) is a low-density residential development in Hong Kong, located on the north-eastern coast of Lantau Island spanning two bays, Tai Pak Bay and Yi Pak Bay with a current population of around 14,300 residents from over 30 different countries - gaining it a reputation as an expatriate enclave.

The community currently consists of twelve development phases of housing ranging from garden houses to high rise towers of up to twenty-five stories; with a few more phases under planning. It is located two kilometres from the site of the future Hong Kong Disneyland in Penny's Bay and approximately 16 kilometres west from the nearest point on Hong Kong Island. The GPS Coordinates are (N022°17'37.0";E114°01'07.0").

Discovery Bay, Hong Kong (July 2003)

Contents

1 History of the development

2 Life in Discovery Bay

3 Recreation and entertainment

4 Transportation network

5 Education in Discovery Bay

6 Siena development

7 External Links

History of the development

Originally conceived by the developer, Hong Kong Resort Company Limited (a subsidiary of HKR International Limited) (HKRI) in agreement with the Hong Kong government, Discovery Bay was conceived in 1976 as a public holiday resort. However, the plan was controversially changed over time into a privately-owned residential development, albeit with certain resort characteristics. Today, only the Tai Pak Bay beach and the Central Park in the new Siena development are available for public use - a deviation that has recently become controversial.

Construction began in the early 1980s. The final idea was unique and proved very popular in Hong Kong; when the first phase of Discovery Bay went on sale in 1982, they were sold out quickly. Subsequent phases continue to do well.

Life in Discovery Bay

Discovery Bay is entirely privately-owned - with Hong Kong Resort both the developer and the local council responsible for maintaining the area; from providing community facilities to providing transportation services. Until 2000, Discovery Bay even had its own private water supply, from the reservoir and water treatment located by the golf course up the valley. The only government facilities present is a fire station and ambulance depot, a post office, subsidized schools, and a police reporting post by the ferry pier.

Community life in Discovery Bay is centred around DB Plaza, a commercial hub containing a bus terminus, ferry pier, an open piazza, and a range of shops including supermarkets, speciality stores, restaurants, medical clinics, and a vet to serve the large pet population. DB Plaza is also one of the few places in Hong Kong which offers al fresco dining. The are currently substantial plans to renovate the restaurant complex in the plaza.

Recreation and entertainment

Missing image
Club_Siena_Discovery_Bay.jpg

Club Siena, Discovery Bay (April 2004)

Discovery Bay boasts a huge range of amenities, including two man-made beaches, four recreational clubs including a 27-hole golf course and a marina (some residents choose to live on yachts moored in the marina), natural streams and rock pools, bicycle tracks, astro-turf football pitch, basketball court, numerous children's playgrounds and good hiking paths leading to other parts of Lantau Island - including the Trappist Haven Monastery and Mui Wo.

The four clubs are:

Discovery Bay Residents' Club
Discovery Bay Marina Club
Discovery Bay Golf Club
Club Siena

Membership to the clubs are separate from residency in Discovery Bay - residents may choose to become members by paying a deposit and monthly fees to the respective clubs. Members of Discovery Bay Residents' Club are automatically members of Club Siena, and vice-versa. All four clubs are subsidiaries of HKRI.

Discovery Bay is a twenty minute bus ride from Tung Chung, where a number of additional options, from a multiplex cinema to three shopping malls, are available.

Transportation network

Missing image
Discovery_Bay_from_the_air.jpg

Discovery Bay from the air (October 2004)

Main access to Discovery Bay is by a 24-hour high speed ferry service operated by Discovery Bay Transportation Services Limited (DBTPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HKRI. This ferry service links Discovery Bay to Central District on Hong Kong Island in just under 25 minutes, on monohull and catamaran waterjets of 300 and 500 seats each, manufactured in Singapore.

In 2000, a tunnel linking Discovery Bay to the North Lantau Expressway opened, and access to Discovery Bay via a shuttle bus service from the nearby Tung Chung town and the Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok is becoming increasingly popular. This service is operated by Discovery Bay Transit Services Limited (DBTSL), another wholly-owned subsidiary of HKRI.

However, as part of an effort to maintain an environmentally friendly lifestyle, private cars are not permitted to enter the area, with a few exceptions for local business, which may apply for entry permits. Commuting within the development is done via a 24-hour internal shuttle bus service operated by DBTSL which runs between various parts of Discovery Bay. Some residents also have golf carts to commute from one part of Discovery Bay to another; however the quantity of golf carts is highly restricted to preserve the traffic-free character of the community.

All the above service accept Hong Kong's Octopus card as well as cash; in addition, ferries operated by DBTPL also accept single-journey and 50-journey electronic tickets issued by them. Half-price discounts are offered for Children, Students and Senior Citizens on the ferry service.

There are also Kai-to ferry services from the Discovery Bay Kai-to Pier in Nim Shue Wan. These ferries link Discovery Bay to Peng Chau and Mui Wo, taking 10 and 20 minutes respectively.

Education in Discovery Bay

Discovery Bay has three kindergartens and two primary schools to serve the population:

Kindergartens:

Sunshine House
Discovery Bay International School (DBIS) Kindergarten
Discovery Mind Kindergarten

Primary Schools

Discovery Bay International School (DBIS)
SKH Wei Lun Primary School

There are currently no secondary schools in the development; students generally travel by ferry to various secondary schools in Hong Kong Island, or by bus to the schools in Tung Chung and the New Territories.

Two primary and secondary 'through-train' schools are currently planned; one to be operated as a PIS (Private Independent School) by the English Schools Foundation, and the other, a government-funded school operated by the Catholic Church. In addition, a sizable extension to Wei Lun Primary School is currently being built.

Siena development

Siena, Discovery Bay (August 2003)

Siena is an extension of Discovery Bay currently being developed in four phases in Yi Pak Bay (Discovery Bay North). This consists of more housing, a large central park and residents club, a large shopping mall, a hotel development and a new ferry pier.

The first two phases of Siena, known as Siena 1 and Siena 2 (and also known as Phase 11 and 12 of Discovery Bay), was sold in 2002 and 2003 respectively by the developer, Hong Kong Resorts Company Limited, despite the prevailing downward trend in the Hong Kong real estate market.

In January 2004, Club Siena opened; and work is progressing on Siena 3 and 4. The first school in Siena is expected to open in 2006. Opening dates for other community facilities such as the planned shopping mall, hotel, and pier are unknown.

Unfortunately, a huge swath of hillside behind Yi Pak Bay and Siena has been burnt during a hillfire from 26 November 2004 to 27 November 2004. This is but one in a series of massive hillfires in the area, often attributed to carelessness on the part of the construction companies. This latest fire started on midday on the 26 November 2004 and by the 27th, an area of 4-5 square kilometres have been burnt, stretching from Discovery Bay to Yam O and Penny's Bay (the site of the Hong Kong Disneyland).