Building on Fanling golf course shortlisted as option to ease Hong Kong housing crunch

Option preferred ‘because the housing shortage is serious and the site is close to the railway network’, says task force source

Hong Kong Golf Club says course should be preserved, ‘to ensure the sustainable development of golf and sports’

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The idea of building on the course sparked fierce opposition. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 7:00pm, 19 Dec 2018Updated: 11:25pm, 19 Dec 2018

Part of an exclusive golf course in northern Hong Kong could be dug up and used for housing, after official advisers put it among eight preferred options for easing a land supply crunch.

Development at the Fanling site, home to the Hong Kong Golf Club, is one of the most controversial options among 18 already floated during a five-month public consultation which ended in September. It sparked fierce opposition from the club, as well as from local business and political leaders.

“It was a unanimous decision to redevelop part of the golf course,” a source at the land supply task force said. “It is because the housing shortage is serious and the site is close to the railway network.”

The task force was set up by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to identify at least 1,200 hectares of land which could be built on, boosting supply in the world’s priciest property market.

The source said that, based on public consultation findings, it had selected eight preferred land options, which in total would free up about 3,000 hectares. Of that, only about 300 hectares would be available within eight years.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam appointed the land supply task force. Photo: Winson Wong