bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Naomi Ng

Space-starved Hong Kong is moving ahead with a highly controversial government proposal to use protected country park land for subsidised housing.
The not-for-profit Housing Society has been tasked to conduct an 18-month study into the feasibility of building public flats and homes for the elderly on two 20-hectare sites on the edges of the Tai Lam and Ma On Shan country parks.
The plan, first proposed by Chief Executive Leung Chung-ying in his policy address earlier this year, is going ahead two months before he steps down from public office. The idea was to find country park land with relatively low ecological and public enjoyment value.
“We are not saying we are going to build flats in country parks now,” Housing Society CEO Wong Kit-loong said. “But the study will facilitate public discussion. We hope to also understand why people disagree [with the proposal].”
Watch: Why is land in Hong Kong so expensive?


Hong Kong lawmakers, conservationists slam housing plan for country parks
Leung raised plenty of eyebrows when he proposed in January that Hong Kong should consider turning to country parks to solve its housing shortage, but since then, several environmentalists who previously opposed the idea have softened their stance.
Former Observatory director Lam Chiu-ying, an outspoken opponent of developing green sites for housing, said he was willing to discuss Leung’s plan if the government promised to increase the total area of country parks.

In 2013, Lam likened the idea of building flats in country parks to a cancerous cell.
“If you give away 100 sq ft now, later you will ask for 100 sq ft more,” he said.
Leung Chun-ying pushes ahead with plan for public flats in country parks
Some lawmakers and conversationists remain opposed to the idea, saying there is no public consensus on the matter and it may set a bad precedent.
Country parks cover 41 per cent of Hong Kong’s land area, while residential land use accounts for some 7 per cent, according to the Planning Department.

Wong said the area set aside for country parks had increased by 6 per cent over the past few years to 43,000 hectares.
“Hong Kong is still short of 200 hectares for building public flats, according to [the planning strategy beyond 2030] ... The queue for public flats is getting longer.The problem is immediate,” he said.
Don’t sacrifice Hong Kong’s country parks for a housing quick fix
Thousands of families now face an average wait of four years and seven months, according to the Housing Authority. Single senior citizens have to wait about two years and seven months. There are currently 275,900 applications for public housing.
The Housing Society had originally looked at five sites – including one on Hong Kong Island – but selected just two, as they were deemed less ecologically sensitive and seldom used by hikers or for recreation purposes.
Land shortage is acute and there are many waiting to get into public housing
CY Leung
Veteran surveyor and former lawmaker Lau Ping-cheung previously said building near the Tai Lam Tunnel toll area in Tai Lam Country Park would be cheaper and faster, and trigger fewer disputes than developing new towns.
Leung said he would follow the necessary town planning procedures if the government decided to give the project the green light.
“I have discussed this before with [incoming chief executive] Carrie Lam. We will not waste any time with this project since we all know Hong Kong’s land shortage is acute and there are many waiting to get into public housing,” Leung said.
In response to media inquiries, the office of the chief executive-elect said the new administration aimed to solve housing problems and increase chances for people to get on the property ladder through various short, medium and long-term policies.
The feasibility study is scheduled for completion in 2019, at an estimated cost of more than HK$10 million.


Rebuilding fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court ‘not practical’, Hong Kong officials say

Hong Kong housing estate flat owners drop contractor linked to Tai Po blaze

Housing anxiety impeding Hong Kong fire trauma recovery: mental health experts

To root out corruption, Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire investigation must go beyond scapegoats

Hong Kong housing

Hong Kong pushes on with controversial proposal to build housing on fringes of country parks

The Housing Society will examine possible development near Shui Chuen O in Ma On Shan Country Park. Photo: May Tse

Tai Tong Lychee Valley in Yuen Long’s Tai Lam Country Park has unlawfully occupied government land for 18 years. A Director of Audit report slams the Lands Department for dragging its feet in taking enforcement action to clear the unauthorised structures. The park business is run by Shap Pat Heung Rural Committee Leung Fuk-yuen. Yuen Long. 18APR12

Leung Chun-ying pushes ahead with plan for public flats in country parks

Secretary for Transport and Housing Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said he would not remain in the government for another term. Photo: Edward Wong

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Government commissions 18-month study on building public housing and homes for elderly on periphery of Tai Lam and Ma On Shan country parks


Hong Kong pushes on with controversial proposal to build housing on fringes of country parks

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Government commissions 18-month study on building public housing and homes for elderly on periphery of Tai Lam and Ma On Shan country parks

Government commissions 18-month study on building public housing and homes for elderly on periphery of Tai Lam and Ma On Shan country parks