More new towns are the answer to Hong Kong's housing woes

In a mini "city-state" like Hong Kong, it is obvious that land is in short supply. So we need to be very careful how we prioritise its use.

There are three uses which stand out: housing, employment and recreation.

Housing is a priority because men moved out of caves centuries ago and now dwell in purpose-built structures that provide shelter from the elements. In Hong Kong's circumstances, that means high-rise apartment blocks for most.

Today, thousands of families live in buildings designed for industrial purposes or are crammed into small residential flats that they are forced to share with other families. Moreover, many of the flats occupied by single families are too small. This is demeaning. The aim should be to house every nuclear family in an apartment of at least 50 square metres.

Without economic activity, we would all go hungry. In a service economy like Hong Kong (well over 90 per cent of our gross domestic product), that means mostly offices, plus hotels to accommodate visiting businesspeople and tourists. Very few traditional manufacturing industries can thrive in such an environment, so all but a handful of niche activities will get squeezed out. Agriculture and mariculture are pretty much lost causes, too.

Sufficient space for recreational activities is absolutely vital. We live in a pressure-cooker environment. When we stagger out of those offices and cramped apartments, we must have room to breathe. (Let's not deviate at this point to the subject of air quality, important though it is.)

We need areas close by for both active and passive recreation; sports pitches, swimming pools or just an open area to sit quietly and read a book. When it all gets too much, we must be able to "head for the hills" and go hiking. A walk in a country park is good for the whole family; it represents healthy entertainment and, best of all, it is free so even the poorest can enjoy the experience.