Offers from political parties of further concessions ahead of a crucial vote on Friday have raised hopes of breaking the deadlock over the Urban Renewal Authority.
The Democrats and other legislators are understood to be close to reaching a consensus with the Government on the compensation to be offered to residents.
Funding to set up the authority was put on hold after officials insisted they would only pay residents to buy flats that were seven years old instead of five.
The Democrats and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) have yet to state if they will vote for the funding package on Friday.
Democrat legislator James To Kun-sun said his party had been flooded with telephone calls from residents urging them to reconsider their opposition. However, he said the party would change its position to accommodate public opinion.
At the RTHK City Forum yesterday, Mr To hinted that a consensus could be reached if the Government offered more. He suggested the administration at least promise that it would recommend to the authority that five years be adopted as the compensation benchmark.
