Landowners open to partnerships, but only for creative industries

A group of landowners in the northeastern New Territories have responded to the government's call for partnerships to develop their properties. But they have stressed that they want their land used to develop creative industries, rather than more apartments or container storage lots.

Lam Kam-kwai has submitted a proposal to the Planning Department, which is now drafting an outline development plan for the combined areas of Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling, one of the three designated new towns and where he lives. The other two areas are Kwu Tung North and Fanling North.

The 23 hectares that Mr Lam and 17 other villagers own make up about 10 per cent of the 225-hectare new town site. Their lots were pooled under a company called North East Holding, which leases the former farmland to operators of war game venues, plant nurseries and container storage lots.

'This is just a short-term measure, since we don't want to leave our land idle,' said Mr Lam, who is also vice-chairman of the Ta Kwu Ling Rural Committee. 'We want to work with the government to figure out a long-term plan to turn it into a place of job opportunities.'

Their land could be used to develop creative industries, or a business park, to do research and development on new products like electric cars, Mr Lam said.

'There's no space in urban areas. We could charge a lower rent, say HK$10 per square foot,' he said.