Hong Kong’s urban planning problems must be addressed, experts say. Is Singapore's model the answer?
Veteran urban planners say Hong Kong could look to the Lion City for examples of successful forward-thinking planning
Urban planners say the dispute over the reliability of the city’s projection of land demand has exposed a deep-rooted problem in the system and that Hong Kong should learn from Singapore.
“How can a city rely on a department head to request his seniors to reserve a certain amount of land for various purposes? Unlike the chief secretary, the Planning Department has little power,” Professor Ng Mee-kam, director of the urban studies programme at Chinese University said.
“We need high-level leadership to steer a territory-wide strategy.”
Land needs for Hong Kong ‘severely underestimated’ at 1,200 hectares
Under the city’s existing planning mechanism, the assessment of land requirements involves two major processes. While the Planning Department projects demand for various land uses based on population, the department also relies on the advice of individual bureaus on the respective sectors under their purview.
Members of the Task Force on Land Supply, appointed by the chief executive, have contested the department’s projection of land demand partly because the amount reserved for some purposes was not aligned with the government’s vision to tackle the ageing population.
Less than five hectares of land is reserved for medical facilities for the next 30 years, despite increasing waiting times in public hospitals. On the other hand, 75 hectares of land is reserved for building columbaria.
“Does it mean that we expect more people will die as they will be deprived of sufficient medical services?” said a task force member, who declined to be named.
Also, the projection does not cover extra land needed to increase living space for families and skilled workers from abroad.
