https://www.scmp.com/rss/285115/feed Nicholas Brooke is chairman of Professional Property Services en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The government recently decided to amend the tendering approach for the Central reclamation project’s “prime site 3” land parcel to embrace a “two-envelope” bidding process. This marks a welcome departure from long-standing policy in Hong Kong, where invariably such tenders were awarded to the highest bidder without regard for the quality of the proposed development. However, while the administration deserves credit for recognising that dollar value is not the only way to assess a winning bid,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3079596/departure-highest-bid-wins-tender-means-central-harbourfront-reclamation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3079596/departure-highest-bid-wins-tender-means-central-harbourfront-reclamation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2020 04:00:09 +0000 As some of you may know, one of my roles is that of chairman of the Asia-Pacific region of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), an organisation which champions the optimum use of land and the sustainable planning and development of cities and communities for the benefit of present and future generations. ULI has some 43,000 members worldwide, with 2,500 in the Asia-Pacific region, and its strengths are the multidisciplinary nature of its membership, covering all sectors of the built environment and... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/3008986/brace-lego-style-buildings-50-year-life-cycle-and-other?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/3008986/brace-lego-style-buildings-50-year-life-cycle-and-other?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 May 2019 04:00:10 +0000 Earlier this year, the government’s Task Force on Land Supply put forward 18 proposed short to long term land supply possibilities together with several conceptual options for public discussion and comment, with responses due on September 26. In my view, none of the 18 proposals deliver what most Hong Kong residents would consider to be “short term” solutions, as they are looking for positive change within the next 12 -24 months (albeit this expectation may not be realistic for permanent... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2167449/shortage-land-hong-kong-not-if-what-there-already-were-utilised-smartly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2167449/shortage-land-hong-kong-not-if-what-there-already-were-utilised-smartly?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Oct 2018 04:03:33 +0000 As many may know, I stepped back as a member of the Harbourfront Commission with effect from July 1, having been chairman since its inception in 2010, and involved for a number of years before that as a member of its predecessor, the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee. Obviously I have done so with some sadness but also with some pride in that the commission, which despite the fact that it is only an adviser to the Hong Kong government, has in my view, achieved some noticeable success in... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2153440/realise-hong-kongs-harbourfront-potential-bureaus-must-rid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2153440/realise-hong-kongs-harbourfront-potential-bureaus-must-rid?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jul 2018 04:00:17 +0000 I think it is generally well known that I actively supported Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor during her election campaign and considered that her manifesto sought to address many of the livelihood issues that have vexed Hong Kong over the last few years. Not least I agreed with her plans to address the entrenched challenges of inadequate housing supply and the issues surrounding choice and affordability that flow from previous failures to resolve these problems. To be fair, much of... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2147094/how-much-longer-does-hong-kong-have-wait-integrated-housing-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2147094/how-much-longer-does-hong-kong-have-wait-integrated-housing-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 May 2018 04:01:42 +0000 At the beginning of the year, it is timely to take stock of progress over the past 12 months and to identify and prioritise the challenges and issues that need to be addressed in the year ahead. None more so than in the case of the Hong Kong property sector, and in particular, the residential market, regarded by many as the ultimate barometer of the health of the wider economy. Obviously, 2017 was much influenced by the changing of the guard – the election of a new Chief Executive and the... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2127250/taking-stock-how-hong-kong-government-deliver-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2127250/taking-stock-how-hong-kong-government-deliver-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jan 2018 00:00:30 +0000 As Hong Kong embarks on a raft of initiatives targeted towards achieving its 2030+ strategy and seeks to participate in the Greater Bay Area opportunities, I think it is essential that all projects embrace a set of principles and guidelines that benefit and facilitate their sustainability and deliver liveable environments. These projects include the development of northern Lantau, the creation of a Sky City at Chek Lap Kok, the further transformation of Kowloon East into a core district, the new... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2117575/optimising-hong-kongs-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2117575/optimising-hong-kongs-development?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Oct 2017 23:47:48 +0000 We know that Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor has housing as one of her key priorities and we have been told she is embarking on major dialogue with the community on different ways that could be considered to break the housing supply log jam. We also assume that part of the discussion will inevitably focus on the issue of affordability and hopefully it will include debate on the definition of “affordable”, who are the targets and what policies and initiatives – institutional,... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2110747/hong-kongs-housing-conundrum-affordable-whom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2110747/hong-kongs-housing-conundrum-affordable-whom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Sep 2017 01:30:00 +0000 The recent sale of the Murray Road car park at a record price clearly demonstrates that there is an appetite for and interest in sites for development in prime locations with Henderson Land Development outcompeting a raft of mainly local developers. However, is it all about money and should the community at large not be taking a greater interest in the design and impact of such developments on their immediate surroundings as well as Hong Kong generally? Granted, the Hong Kong government has... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2096123/hk-needs-look-beyond-financial-returns-real-estate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2096123/hk-needs-look-beyond-financial-returns-real-estate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 May 2017 07:00:36 +0000 All three candidates for the post of Hong Kong chief executive have accepted that provision of housing for all sectors of the community will be one of their key priorities should they be elected later this month with Carrie Lam agreeing in her manifesto that “the housing ladder needs to be rebuilt to provide families in different income brackets with the opportunity to become home owners”. The reality, of course, is that currently there is no clear ladder as such and we only, in effect, have... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2078385/radical-rethink-needed-find-solutions-hks-housing-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2078385/radical-rethink-needed-find-solutions-hks-housing-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Mar 2017 08:00:56 +0000 Understandably land supply and housing appear to be two of the main topics which contenders need to tackle to secure both Election Committee and public support in next month’s Chief Executive election. Potential suggestions and solutions will no doubt abound but in the final analysis any successful package of policies and measures will need to respond to some fundamental challenges as to what to provide, how and for whom. The “how” is probably the biggest hurdle to overcome in that the reality... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2068456/innovative-solutions-needed-hks-land-housing-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2068456/innovative-solutions-needed-hks-land-housing-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Feb 2017 07:01:35 +0000 Christmas and the New Year are traditionally a time of good cheer and of giving and hence I thought it would be an opportune time to consider what Hong Kong might like from Santa Claus. What has emerged over the past few days is that Hong Kong can certainly expect a new chief executive for July 1, 2017. That gives Santa and Hong Kong a much wider canvas and the opportunity for a new chief executive to bring about the change that is clearly demanded. It is not acceptable or tenable for the... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2053924/crowded-populace-looks-new-santa-living-space-gift?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2053924/crowded-populace-looks-new-santa-living-space-gift?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Dec 2016 08:02:20 +0000 The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce will be holding its annual Business Summit later this week and I have been asked to share my thoughts on how Hong Kong can enhance its relevance and extend its role as a leading business and financial hub in Asia and catch up as a smart city through innovation, technology, sustainability and liveability measures. This coincides with last week’s publication for public engagement of the government’s Hong Kong 2030+ study which is designed to update the... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2041641/retrofitting-hong-kong-all-about-reinforcing-strengths-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2041641/retrofitting-hong-kong-all-about-reinforcing-strengths-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Nov 2016 08:02:02 +0000 As some may know, one of my more recent roles is that of an advisor to the Policy Participation on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI) which is the main body in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) that provides guidance to the governments of the 21 Apec economies on the developments taking place in these areas and how they should respond. One of the main topics that is high on the agenda and subject to much discussion is what is termed as Fourth Industrial Revolution and how it is... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2024612/flexibility-design-planning-and-construction-holds-key?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/2024612/flexibility-design-planning-and-construction-holds-key?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Oct 2016 08:04:44 +0000 In a recent article I made the point that the main thrust of any liveable city agenda is the provision of adequate and affordable housing for all sectors of the community. However, there is much more to a liveable city and to quality of life than simply housing and whilst “smart” initiatives are often portrayed as the modern solution to the challenges of urban living, in my view “smart” is only one component of the overall matrix. In fact, in order to address quality of life issues we need to... https://www.scmp.com/property/article/2010849/housing-just-one-facet-hong-kongs-liveable-city-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/article/2010849/housing-just-one-facet-hong-kongs-liveable-city-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Aug 2016 08:04:20 +0000 As we move into the period when Legislative Council candidates are starting to articulate their focus areas and, more particularly, as potential Chief Executive candidates begin to give thought to their manifestos, it might be timely to set out what I believe should be one of the key drivers from a community point of view – improving quality of life in Hong Kong and the our liveable city agenda from a housing perspective. We make progress on the supply of land but affordability still remains a... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1997774/improving-quality-life-and-hong-kongs-liveable-city-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1997774/improving-quality-life-and-hong-kongs-liveable-city-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Aug 2016 12:00:52 +0000 The government recently sought community views on the conservation of Hong Kong's built heritage with the aim of establishing its importance and saving what little is left. The city's relatively small heritage portfolio and districts of cultural and historical value warrant protection for a variety of reasons - not least as part of the city's collective memory. However, the challenge is at what price and how, within the context of Hong Kong's market economy, are we to treat equitably those... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1577029/how-we-can-conserve-whats-left-hong-kongs-built-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1577029/how-we-can-conserve-whats-left-hong-kongs-built-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2014 21:15:30 +0000 As we are now two years into Leung Chun-ying's administration, we can take stock of what has been achieved in the city's property market. Housing was one of the key platforms in the chief executive's election manifesto, particularly the sourcing of more residential land and delivery of more units to the market, not only to assist those who aspire to own but also to increase public rental stock. Ultimate targets of 20,000 private sector and 25,000 public units were set as firm goals, while Leung... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1544397/harsh-realities-market-stymie-leung-chun-yings-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1544397/harsh-realities-market-stymie-leung-chun-yings-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2014 20:49:45 +0000 As we contemplate the future strategic direction of Hong Kong, a recurring area of debate is whether the city's current operating model is the most efficient and effective in terms of the management and maintenance of the urban fabric and built environment. So often issues of a management nature seem to become highly politicised, leading to unnecessary delays in their implementation and, on occasions, increased hardship for sectors of our society. Apart from local matters which fall within the... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1322264/let-chief-operating-officer-get-above-politics-administer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1322264/let-chief-operating-officer-get-above-politics-administer?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:00:00 +0000 It was salutary to step back from Hong Kong's current local "hot house" environment recently, and spend some time in Europe, meeting with international investors. In particular, it was interesting to listen to external views on Hong Kong as an investment destination or as a base from which to invest in the region, since there is a risk that in the absence of these exchanges we become so enmeshed in immediate issues that we are in danger of forgetting the bigger picture. Obviously the oft-quoted... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1298094/foreign-buyers-still-find-premium-hong-kong-property-worth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1298094/foreign-buyers-still-find-premium-hong-kong-property-worth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Aug 2013 16:00:00 +0000 The release of the Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources by the Environment Bureau outlining policy proposals for the next 10 years is a welcome step in Hong Kong's becoming a more sustainable city. However, the success of that policy vision will depend largely on the response of the community to the proposals and to similar initiatives in the areas of energy, water, and environmentally acceptable transport. Given our compact built environment and the density of population and development,... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1258578/hong-kong-takes-welcome-step-sustainable-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1258578/hong-kong-takes-welcome-step-sustainable-future?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Not surprisingly, the state of the real estate market, particularly the residential sector, has been the subject of much discussion since the new administration took office in July and began an attempt to make up for the failure of its predecessors to adequately address land and housing issues. Much has been written about the situation in which we find ourselves, and there is no doubt that the previous administration did take its eye off the ball in terms of land supply and the need for an... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1092280/clear-plan-needed-address-land-supply-and-housing-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/1092280/clear-plan-needed-address-land-supply-and-housing-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:00:00 +0000