Aberdeen Harbour on Hong Kong Island will become an international tourist destination and a location for new investment opportunities under a "Fisherman's Wharf''- style redevelopment proposed by the Planning Department.

The project will involve five piers and a waterfront promenade allowing for different kinds of maritime-related tourism and recreational uses.

Deputy Director of Planning Ava Ng said the concept of redeveloping the harbour as a traditional fishing port supplemented by tourism facilities had proved popular in other parts of the world.

"When conducting the focus study on Aberdeen harbour we have taken into account the harbour's unique maritime and fishing history, which dates back to the Ming Dynasty," Mrs Ng said.

"With its fishing port theme the harbour will be marketed as an international tourist destination and a location for new investment opportunities."

The tourism and recreational facilities under consideration include a maritime museum, floating markets, a live fish market, bars and restaurants, flea markets, an entertainment complex, a theme park, outdoor performance venues and a resort hotel.

The five major tourism nodes of the district will include Fish Market Quay, Harbour Square, Po Chong Wan Quay, the Middle Kingdom Redevelopment Project and an activities-packed bazaar at Ap Lei Chau. Water linkages between these nodes will be provided in harbour taxis as well as by the more traditional sampan rides.

Three promenades totalling 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) will encourage scenic walks along the coastline and restaurants will offer al fresco dining.

Mrs Ng stressed that the conceptual development option had been measured against a comprehensive set of criteria, ranging from land-use planning, urban design, landscape, heritage, social and economic issues to coastal, transport and environmental considerations.

"If the public supports our proposals, we will proceed to a feasibility test in the second stage of the study to assess their transport, environment, infrastructure and marine traffic impacts," she said.

This could begin by April or May, Mrs Ng said, and some of the projects could be developed "four or five years from now".