Continuity needed on public housing initiative

Only a small part of two country parks is being considered for development and there are enough safeguards to ensure that conservation will not be compromised

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The Housing Society will focus on two ecologically non-sensitive sites on the edges of Ma On Shan and Tai Lam country parks, with only public housing and flats for the elderly housing to be built. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 3:58am, 19 May 2017Updated: 3:58am, 19 May 2017

Plans to develop some land in Hong Kong’s country parks for housing are a step closer to reality. Instead of going through the usual channels to conduct a feasibility study within the administration, outgoing chief executive Leung Chun-ying has entrusted the task to the not-for-profit Housing Society. Controversial as it is, the study is a crucial step towards addressing the city’s housing shortage. It is important that the incoming government follow through on the initiative and work closely with all stakeholders to strike the right balance between the need for housing and conservation.

After exploring a few options, the Housing Society has decided to focus on two ecologically non-sensitive sites on the edges of Ma On Shan and Tai Lam country parks. Only public housing and flats for the elderly will be built. The measured approach is a sensible response to concerns over excessive development.

A closer look at the city’s land use provides further justification for the initiative. Over the past few years, the total size of designated country park land has increased by 6 per cent to 43,000 hectares, or about 41 per cent of the territory. But only 7 per cent of the city’s land is currently zoned for housing. With 275,900 applications still in the queue for public housing, it is estimated that another 200 hectares of land are needed beyond 2030 to meet the demand.