https://www.scmp.com/rss/322033/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Hong Kong needs land for housing. Given that 76 per cent of the city’s 1,106 sq km territory is still undeveloped, we do not lack land for development per se. What we do lack is a consensus on where the land should come from. Based on the government’s “Hong Kong 2030 Plus” development strategy, the city needs 4,800 hectares of land to meet its housing and development needs, but can find only 3,600 hectares, leaving a shortfall of 1,200 hectares. At its first meeting recently, the 30-member task... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2111641/hong-kongs-housing-crisis-cant-be-solved-democratic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2111641/hong-kongs-housing-crisis-cant-be-solved-democratic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Sep 2017 09:07:57 +0000 As the race to become the next Hong Kong chief executive heats up, it’s not news that housing remains one of the key issues. Hong Kong has one of the world’s most expensive property markets, not just for the average person who simply wants a roof over their head, but also for businesspeople in this financial hub. According to the UBS Global Real Estate Bubble Index 2016, it now takes 18 years for someone on a skilled worker’s income to buy a 600 sq ft flat in Hong Kong. Flats are not just... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2071832/hong-kong-solving-its-housing-crisis-and-next-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2071832/hong-kong-solving-its-housing-crisis-and-next-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Feb 2017 03:01:06 +0000 Unsurprisingly, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying placed a heavy emphasis on housing in his fourth policy address. And, just as unsurprisingly, many are still pointing their fingers at him for the high property prices during his time in office, resulting in an endless wait for a proper home among the grass roots, and an ever-increasing number of people living in subdivided flats. Acknowledging that the housing issue has been plaguing the city for decades, Leung said that “exorbitant property... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1903650/finally-hong-kongs-housing-policy-being-built-solid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1903650/finally-hong-kongs-housing-policy-being-built-solid?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Jan 2016 23:00:52 +0000 Earlier this week, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying made a point, following an Executive Council meeting, that members of the tourism industry should cooperate and seek common ground. His comments followed uncooperative action by some members of the tourism industry, in response to the Travel Industry Council’s tightening of rules aimed at better protecting visitors’ rights. New measures include a refund protection scheme, which allows the council to suspend the registration of shops under... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1900099/tour-guides-are-leading-hong-kong-travel-industry-wrong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1900099/tour-guides-are-leading-hong-kong-travel-industry-wrong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Jan 2016 08:42:21 +0000