EditorialSpeed of essence in Hong Kong’s new town plan
- With Hong Kong facing an acute shortage of land and housing supply, the government has to strike a proper balance between engaging stakeholders and efficiency if it is to deliver the project on time
The prolonged battle against the Covid-19 epidemic may have diverted public resources and attention from an array of problems that have long been gripping Hong Kong.
Topping the list is the acute shortage of land and housing supply. The government, to its credit, has stepped up efforts on this front, although a lot more still needs to be done. Therefore, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her team must work harder to deliver.
As many as 31,000 flats will be ready by 2032, according to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council.
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With the government forecasting a land shortage of 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) in the next three decades, the proposed border new town is certainly a welcome initiative. But the decade-long timetable appears too slow for a city with a great appetite for growth and development.