Wrong thinking on the future of Kai Tak
Low-density housing won't tackle the need for affordable homes, while questions remain over demand for a sports hub
Kai Tak is in the news again, with individuals and organisations debating the pros and cons of dedicating land to housing or a sports hub.
Given that developing the space formerly occupied by the old airport is bound to take many years, we may have to become accustomed to articles debating the merits of various uses for the land. But the arguments recently have been unconvincing.
Is a sports hub really the best use for expensive land, and is there sufficient demand for such a project? Perhaps the existing Hong Kong Stadium and the planned arenas in the West Kowloon Cultural District, among other locations, would provide ample capacity for all but a handful of events per year.
If this is not the case, then interested parties should detail the proposed uses.
Allocating more land for flats may well serve a purpose. However, the desire among some commentators for low-density housing, while laudable, is unlikely to tackle the lack of affordable housing in the city.
Surely low-density housing in such a location would price out of the market the very people that the government hopes to get on the housing ladder.