Government to increase housing land supply

Hong Kong also eyes further development of the Tung Chung New Town, and implementing new development areas in the northern New Territories.

Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning & Lands) Thomas Chow says the Kai Tak Development Area will provide land for housing starting from 2013, and the Government will continue to supply housing land in developments throughout Hong Kong.

Speaking at the Legislative Council Housing Panel on Tuesday, Mr Chow said the Government is pressing ahead with infrastructure works at Kai Tak to enable the release of private housing sites from 2013.

The Government, in one of its reports, said it will also continue to supply housing land through developments in the urban areas, further development of the Tung Chung New Town, and implementing new development areas in the northern New Territories.

The Government is conducting a planning study on the quarry site at Anderson Road and a planning review of the ex-Cha Kwo Ling Kaolin Mine site, and will embark on other studies to identify more housing land, including a planning study on a quarry site on Lamma Island and a feasibility study on the remaining development of the Tung Chung New Town.

The Government is considering early commencement of site formation to facilitate housing development in the North East New Territories new development areas. It is estimated land will be available from 2018 at the earliest.

The Legislative Council Finance Committee has approved funding for a study on the Hung Shui Kiu new development area, which will begin soon. It is estimated land will be available for housing development from 2021 onwards.

Mr Chow said the land-sale programme is not the sole source of housing land supply. Other sources include projects subject to lease modification or land exchange, private redevelopment projects not subject to lease modification or land exchange, railway property development projects, and Urban Renewal Authority property projects.

The Government must also explore new ways to provide land to meet social and economic needs in the long run, Mr Chow said, adding two possible ways are reclamation on an appropriate scale outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern development.

The Government will conduct extensive public-engagement activities in the fourth quarter with a view to reaching a community consensus on these measures.