Hong Kong court approves golf club’s bid for judicial review of environmental report behind public housing plan
- Court grants approval after club argues favouring of housing plan in report amounts to procedural unfairness
- Area being rezoned only covers 32 hectares of land, which is below new threshold stipulated in ordinance, Conservancy Association campaign officer Roy Ng says
The Hong Kong Golf Club has secured the High Court’s approval to challenge the government’s push for building public housing on part of its oldest course, throwing into uncertainty a high-profile undertaking by authorities in their efforts to ramp up the supply of affordable homes.
The court on Tuesday approved the club’s application for a judicial review of the official environmental impact assessment report favouring the controversial housing plan, and ordered a temporary halt to any decisions stemming from it pending the hearing, which could start as early as August 11.
The club, which counts the richest and most powerful people among its members, argues that the environmental assessment report is fundamentally flawed, but Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is insisting his government will take back the 32 hectares (79 acres) of land it has earmarked for development when the relevant lease expires in September.
After the court announced its decision, the Development Bureau said it had sought legal advice and stressed the proposal would move onto the next stages.
“The decision will not affect the government taking back the 32-hectare site on September 1,” the bureau said.