Carrie Lam pledges to focus on Hong Kong’s housing woes in final year of term

Maintaining land supply key to solving long-standing issue, city leader says, vowing to prevent ‘fragmentation of responsibilities’ among departments

Her own administration has shown ‘determination and courage’ on the issue, chief executive tells lawmakers

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City leader Carrie Lam on Thursday pledged to focus on the city’s housing shortage during the last year of her term. Photo: Sun Yeung

Published: 1:29pm, 15 Jul 2021Updated: 12:13pm, 16 Jul 2021

Hong Kong’s leader on Thursday pledged to focus on solving the city’s housing woes in the final year of her term, saying she would strengthen top-level supervision of government policy to prevent “fragmentation of responsibilities” among departments.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also identified what she called the only way to overcome one of the city’s most intractable problems – a resolve to provide a continuous and stable supply of land for new housing.

“What we need to fundamentally solve the housing problem in Hong Kong is not any expedient measure, but the determination to maintain the land supply,” she told lawmakers at a Thursday question and answer session.

“We need the courage to insist on our policies despite the short-term economic fluctuations or the ups and downs in property prices.

“The incumbent administration has demonstrated its determination and courage, and I hope the next government can carry on our beliefs.”

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Thursday praised her own administration’s ‘determination and courage’ in maintaining land supply. Photo: Sam Tsang

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Carrie Lam pledges to focus on Hong Kong’s housing woes in final year of term

Maintaining land supply key to solving long-standing issue, city leader says, vowing to prevent ‘fragmentation of responsibilities’ among departments Her own administration has shown ‘determination and courage’ on the issue, chief executive tells lawmakers

Maintaining land supply key to solving long-standing issue, city leader says, vowing to prevent ‘fragmentation of responsibilities’ among departments

Her own administration has shown ‘determination and courage’ on the issue, chief executive tells lawmakers