Hong Kong lawmakers, conservationists slam housing plan for country parks
Government is accused of bypassing Legislative Council by commissioning Housing Society to study feasibility of building public housing in two parks
Lawmakers and conservationists are up in arms over a move by officials to commission the not-for-profit Housing Society to study the feasibility of building flats on the fringes of country parks, criticising the move as an attempt to bypass legislative scrutiny over what has long been a lightning rod for controversy.
“To try to circumvent Legco once again by getting its peripheral institutions to carry out policies that residents do not welcome is very frustrating and regrettable,” said legislator Eddie Chu Hoi-dick. “If this goes on ... the function of the legislature to monitor and vet the government’s finances will be severely undermined.”
Chinese University political scientist Ivan Choy Chi-keung thought the government was trying to sidestep a possible legislative filibuster.
Government environmental advisors and green groups argued that the plan lacked public consensus and proper discussion. And worse, according to Country and Marine Parks Board member Dr Man Chi-sum, was that the government invited what was essentially a property developer with limited expertise on the environment to conduct the study.