The developer of Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay is pushing ahead with a plan for unrestricted taxi access and four new ranks in the resort-style seaside community on Lantau Island, despite a backlash from residents.

In a paper submitted to Islands District Council, Hong Kong Resort Company said the lack of point-to-point public transport “severely impacts residents’ daily lives” and that it had received hundreds of messages of support for the proposal.

The company said existing restrictions limiting taxi access to the North Plaza created “significant transport barriers”, particularly for the elderly, those in poor health, people with mobility difficulties, carers with children, travellers with bulky luggage and late-night commuters.

It said it planned to allow urban and Lantau taxis to enter other areas of Discovery Bay and create new ranks at the fire station, kaito pier, golf club and multi-recreation centre.

A traffic monitoring system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) would detect any speeding, illegal overtaking or illegal parking by taxi drivers, it added.