Fast tracking land dev’t processes won’t preempt LegCo’s functions: gov’t

The Development Bureau is eyeing to accelerate land production.

The government’s proposal to speed up land development-related statutory procedures will not preempt the Legislative Council’s duties and monitoring functions, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said.

This stemmed from the Development Bureau’s proposal to amend the existing procedures to compress development timetables and speed up land production.

Included in the amendments is allowing the government to begin the resumption of land and provision of rehousing and compensation as long as it is approved by the executive council's approval, without waiting for LegCo's approval of the relevant works funding.

Linn said LegCo members can send their concerns and feedback at the earlier stages of the development projects, such as the “panel meetings where the Government introduces its initial idea of the projects or the Finance Committee's meeting which discusses the approval of the funding used for compensation."