Housing policy can build better future for young citizens

Our chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, recently announced in his policy address that the government would address the unaffordable-housing crisis in Hong Kong by building more homes under the two government housing schemes - public rental housing and the Home Ownership Scheme that provides subsidised flats for purchase. Unlike the previous chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Mr Leung emphasises housing as a top priority in his political agenda.

He has led the government to identify sufficient land for these subsidised homes and will conduct additional studies on the possibilities of reclaiming northern Lantau waters and Sunny Bay to explore extra land for housing. The government is further looking into the option of building artificial islands in central waters to develop an eastern Lantau metropolis to accommodate more homes.

To get a better understanding of the public's opinion, I have discussed the government's promise with many students from low-income families. Most of them told me that the government's new focus on affordable and adequate housing had restored their sense of direction in life.

They now have greater motivation to study and work, as they know that they can at least afford a subsidised home and live a comfortable life in the near future. They know that they will soon no longer be impoverished by the high cost of housing.

My view of the government's promise is that it has finally set its priorities right by focusing on the unaffordable-housing crisis. Building more government housing is a positive step towards alleviating poverty.

Low-income individuals will no longer feel pushed out of the city by the rich. With better housing conditions, more students will do better in their academic studies and aim to reach their full potential.