Michael Suen tells property giants the community will not accept redevelopment of harbourfront blocks
A plan by developers to demolish Hunghom Peninsula for redevelopment is not acceptable to Hong Kong society, the housing chief said yesterday.
Secretary for Housing, Planning, and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung also rejected the developers' claims that they did not need to pay extra land premium if they redeveloped the property.
'I think the land lease is pretty clear. If they come up with other interpretations and submit a new application, we will process it according to the contract,' he said.
Although redeveloping the site was a commercial decision, to do so 'would not be accepted by society'.
'It is a commercial decision for the developers to tear down the structures. But the community ... will not accept that,' he said.
A Housing Bureau spokesman also reiterated yesterday that any redevelopment had to comply with the master layout plan, which governs such specifics as the number of flats and their size, while a modification of the lease might result in a land premium being payable.
