Exclusive | Paul Chan on housing: Hong Kong has land, but must cut red tape, reduce abuse to address woes
- Government is focused on resolving shortage, will act on Beijing’s call to eradicate ‘cage homes’
- Not hinting if he wants to run for city leader, Chan says: ‘I have a lot to do, I’ll do my best’
This is the first in a series of articles based on a wide-ranging Post interview with Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po. Read part two here and part three here.
He also advocated a rethink of current plans for the area near Hong Kong’s boundary with Shenzhen, to identify more land there for housing and economic development.
“We have been exploring different possibilities to increase land supply. We are leaving no stone unturned. To increase land supply in a short time may be challenging, but we are looking at it actively to find possibilities,” Chan said in a wide-ranging interview with the Post earlier this week.
Land and home shortages are battleground issues in the run-up to the city’s leadership race next March, with Beijing officials repeatedly saying housing woes are the top priority for Hong Kong to resolve.
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Hong Kong financial secretary Paul Chan on land and housing issue in the city
Some observers have viewed Chan as a potential chief executive, but when asked if he had any wish to be considered for the top job, he shrugged off the question without a yes or no answer.