Hong Kong government loses appeal over Fanling golf course housing plan

The government’s push to boost short-term public housing supply has suffered a setback after it lost an appeal against a court decision overturning conditional approval for building 12,000 flats on part of Hong Kong’s oldest golf course.In a judgment delivered on Monday, the Court of Appeal found that official endorsement of the project’s environmental impact assessment report was marred by an unfair public consultation process, the imposition of improper conditions and a failure to meet wildlife conservation objectives.The ruling is likely to result in fresh public consultations on developing 9.5 hectares (23.5 acres) of the 32 hectares that the government took back from the 172-hectare golf course in Fanling three years ago. The project was initially slated for completion in 2029.