Ex-Hong Kong leader revives plan to build public flats at country park, fuelling rumours of run for top office
- Leung Chun-ying is calling for up to 30,000 new public housing flats on the edges of Tai Lam Country Park
- But his suggestion that the process begin before town planning approval would be received has some experts worried
His tone and detailed policy-like approach has sparked speculation again of a possible leadership comeback bid ahead of the chief executive election in March, while some have cautioned that his fast-tracked housing proposal should not go against established procedures.
Now an elder statesman as a vice-chairman of China’s top political advisory body, Leung recalled that in his last policy speech as chief executive in 2017, he had proposed to allocate a small proportion of land on the periphery of country parks for public housing and non-profit-making homes for the elderly.
Given that country parks are protected in Hong Kong, he had argued that areas with lower ecological and public enjoyment value should be selected. He had also invited the Housing Society to conduct an ecological and technical study.