Is Hong Kong any closer to plugging land supply shortfall even with policy address proposals?
- Carrie Lam highlighted several major schemes in her policy address but most are still being studied and do not have a timeline for completion
- Supplement lists 14 projects in the next 30 years that will yield more than 4,000 hectares of land but only two have clear time frame
Most of the land earmarked to plug a shortfall of 3,000 hectares in space-starved Hong Kong over the next 30 years is unlikely to be available for at least a decade, with projects facing hurdles such as financing uncertainties and potential local objections.
She also revealed that Hong Kong faced a shortfall of 3,000 hectares of land for housing, economic and recreational developments over the next three decades to 2048 – much higher than an initial estimate of 1,200 hectares in a long-delayed review of a planning study. However, Lam declared that enough sources of land supply had been identified, including a proposed Northern Metropolis near the border with mainland China.
The supplement of her policy address lists 14 projects in the next 30 years which will yield more than 4,000 hectares of land. But a check by the Post found that only two schemes – the Lantau Tomorrow Vision and San Tin/Lok Ma Chau development node – had a clear time frame for the first population intake. No information was available on the other projects, as most were being planned or had yet to receive funding.
“We will be able to deliver,” a government source said. “Some projects are under study, some will be taken to the Legislative Council for funding requests next year.”