Partial development of Fanling golf course could provide housing quickly, task force says

A government-appointed task force agreed on Tuesday that partially developing an exclusive golf course in Fanling would be a quicker way to provide much-needed land to solve Hong Kong’s housing crisis, compared to developing the whole course.

The committee’s opinion came after critics accused the government of lowballing the number of flats that could be built on the 170-hectare course and attempting to “mislead” the public into favouring the partial development plan.

The task force, in charge of discussing options to increase land supply, decided to put up both partial and full development plans up for consultation, chairman Stanley Wong Yuen-fai said.

But Wong said the committee would not consult the public on a proposal to develop 19 military sites for housing, after the government made it clear that it did not intend to change the use of these sites.

“We are competing with time,” Wong said after the Tuesday meeting. “We are facing a very severe land problem … We hope the public can discuss some practical options objectively and rationally.”

‘Give us a fair hearing’: Hong Kong golf chief says it’s time for their voice to be heard

The golf course is leased to the Hong Kong Golf Club by the Home Affairs Bureau until August 2020. It is understood that both home affairs and development ministers promised task force members at the meeting that the government would not renew the lease until the results of the public consultation are out.