Hong Kong billionaire to develop $3 billion casino in Cairns

Hong Kong billionaire Tony Fung has visited Cairns to discuss his plans for a $3 billion casino and five-star hotel resort complex.

Fung, through his Australian-based 4JS group, has been privately lobbying the Queensland Government for support for the new multi-billion-dollar development on cane fields at a north of city within the next five years.

The project would include five hotels, villas, an aquarium and a golf course on 283 hectares of land at Yorkeys Knob.

In an interview with local media, Fung explained how the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns was shaping as "the ultimate destination" for the international visitors.

Fung, visited and invested in Queensland for 15 years, stated "Cairns is the jewel, it just needs a little polish."

Fung, who built the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, need to get the backing of the Federal and Queensland Governments along with the local government and the local community to get the project off the ground.

He added "Cairns really is the heart and soul of Queensland's tourism industry and any long term recovery will be intrinsically linked to what happens in Cairns.

"I have visited hundreds of cities around the world and Cairns remains one of the most welcoming and friendly I have ever been to. Our goal is to introduce a whole new generation of Australian and international visitors to Cairns and far north Queensland and get them coming back for more."