'Let one body set housing agenda'

Surveyors have called for action to cut the bureaucracy they say is stifling housing policy.

They want the government to form a group made up of officials from various bureaus, which would then produce ideas to develop the property market. The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors says too many people are involved at the moment to make long-term plans.

It made the submission to the consultation on subsidising home ownership, which ends today.

'We hope there can be a government body that includes officials from different bureaus to oversee housing policies,' said Dr Lawrence Poon Wing-cheung, the institute's housing policy panel chairman.

The Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau was split up three years ago. Housing is now handled by the Transport and Housing Bureau, while planning and lands policy come under the Development Bureau.

'Although the ministers and the bureaus are all working as a team, they have a problem when formulating policies because their work involves another bureau,' Poon said.

He said the government should also set up a think tank - with developers, pressure groups, academics and other stakeholders - to put forward proposals on housing policies.