https://www.scmp.com/rss/522889/feed The latest news and top stories on Andrew Lam Siu-lo. A town planner with over two decades of experience in urban design and project management across Asia, he is currently a member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. He previously served as Executive Director of the Urban Renewal Authority and President of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners. His work focuses on urban development, government efficiency and housing issues, including advocating for the Northern Metropolis and streamlining... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong lawmakers have called for a rethink of a government scheme to develop homes for the elderly, days after the city’s second-largest public housing provider revealed it would stop building homes targeting older residents for the next decade. Lawmaker Andrew Lam Siu-lo of the Legislative Council’s housing panel said on Monday that the government had not been proactive enough in formulating a comprehensive housing policy for the elderly, urging authorities to provide new incentives for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353113/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-rethink-housing-development-policy-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353113/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-rethink-housing-development-policy-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 06:28:38 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A winning bid involving Henderson Land Development to operate a major Hong Kong harbourfront event space has expanded the developer’s footprint in Central to three prime locations, which experts say may result in greater accessibility and more visitors from surrounding commercial properties. Central Grand, a 50:50 joint venture formed by Henderson and concert organiser YW Company – commonly known as “Yiu Wing” – won the tender to operate the 3.7-hectare (9.1 acres) Central Harbourfront Event... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351301/hendersons-winning-bid-run-harbour-event-space-could-boost-centrals-access?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351301/hendersons-winning-bid-run-harbour-event-space-could-boost-centrals-access?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:42:23 +0000 Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Proposed designated laws to streamline land-use approval procedures for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will not undermine the authority of Hong Kong’s town planning body, some experts have argued, while urging the government to establish clear key performance indicators (KPIs) to strengthen market confidence. Observers were responding to a package of six subsidiary laws unveiled on Tuesday by the Development Bureau, designed to remove bottlenecks in the New Territories project. A key... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Some elderly residents facing eviction from a block of subdivided flats in Hong Kong have expressed concerns that they could lose their jobs if forced to relocate to enable their landlords to upgrade the homes to comply with new regulations. Residents of Sham Shui Po’s Yee Wa Building were previously told they would need to leave sometime between March and December. The renovations were prompted by a clampdown on substandard housing that is set to take effect in March. Landlords who immediately... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340603/elderly-hongkongers-facing-eviction-over-subdivided-flat-revamp-fear-upended-lives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340603/elderly-hongkongers-facing-eviction-over-subdivided-flat-revamp-fear-upended-lives?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:19:14 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu The dust has settled on the election of the Legislative Council president, and committees and panels have settled into the new Legco. Most, it seems, are ready to hit the ground running. First on the agenda: dealing with the aftermath of the Tai Po fire. The more immediate matters involve the rebuilding of a community that has lost so much. Equally pressing are the long-standing issues laid bare by the tragic fire that demand the government fix the entire building sector. Consultations with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3340199/policy-blowback-shows-why-hong-kong-lawmakers-must-play-bigger-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3340199/policy-blowback-shows-why-hong-kong-lawmakers-must-play-bigger-role?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au New measures to strengthen Hong Kong’s building maintenance regime after the deadly Tai Po fire only scratch the surface of long-standing issues that require deeper systemic reforms and tougher laws, according to experts and industry figures. The damning verdict came after the government’s pledges and proposals on Wednesday to close policy gaps and tackle entrenched problems laid bare by the blaze at Wang Fuk Court. At the first Legislative Council meeting of the year, officials unveiled a raft... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340059/bid-rigging-and-loopholes-pledges-fall-short-fixing-hong-kongs-building-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340059/bid-rigging-and-loopholes-pledges-fall-short-fixing-hong-kongs-building-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:45:46 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Extra costs and the use of public resources may be incurred under the Hong Kong government’s proposed moves to increase professional scrutiny of building maintenance projects following the deadly Tai Po inferno, a lawmaker has said, calling for further discussion. Election Committee lawmaker Andrew Lam Siu-lo, a town planner by training, said on Thursday that expanding the Urban Renewal Authority’s (URA) role in such projects might require extra time and money, urging the government and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339976/tougher-building-checks-may-add-costs-slow-projects-hong-kong-lawmaker-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339976/tougher-building-checks-may-add-costs-slow-projects-hong-kong-lawmaker-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:50:39 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong lawmaker Duncan Chiu owns 54 properties at home and overseas, more than any of the other 89 lawmakers, a review of their declaration of interests shows. But Chiu indicated that he is considering selling his properties in the West, citing geopolitical risks and his limited time for managing them. Chiu, the son of the late entrepreneur Deacon Chiu, represents the technology and innovation sector. He is among the five lawmakers who have declared ownership of more than 10 properties, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3339926/hong-kong-lawmaker-duncan-chiu-leads-legco-affluent-list-54-properties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3339926/hong-kong-lawmaker-duncan-chiu-leads-legco-affluent-list-54-properties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:30:15 +0000 Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s newly elected lawmakers, many of them fresh faces on the political scene, held their first meeting on Wednesday, with officials pledging to address policy gaps exposed by the deadly Tai Po inferno, from tightening oversight of maintenance project tenders and raising homeowner voting thresholds to imposing a smoking ban at construction sites. Wednesday also marked the first time since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty 28 years ago that a city leader had addressed the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339922/gaps-laid-bare-deadly-hong-kong-fire-focus-first-legco-meeting-new-term?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339922/gaps-laid-bare-deadly-hong-kong-fire-focus-first-legco-meeting-new-term?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:38:54 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Rebuilding the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court on its original site to rehouse displaced residents will be “immensely challenging” because of complex legal and property rights issues, a senior Hong Kong official has said, adding that a cash buy-back would be the “fastest and most flexible” solution. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, who leads a government task force on emergency resettlement of the residents, has shifted his stance several times over the past few days. His latest... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339904/hong-kong-officials-urge-buy-back-plan-over-challenging-wang-fuk-court-rebuild?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339904/hong-kong-officials-urge-buy-back-plan-over-challenging-wang-fuk-court-rebuild?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:39:25 +0000 Denise Tsang,Leopold Chen,Danny Mok Denise Tsang,Leopold Chen,Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities have tightened requirements for future tenants of the Central Harbourfront Event Space by introducing key performance indicators (KPIs) for tenders and penalties for poor execution, with some analysts saying the move would help improve the city’s image after the fiasco of a hot-air balloon festival last year. The Development Bureau said on Monday that an open tender was under way until mid-February for a new tenant of the roughly 3.7-hectare (9.1-acre) site, with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338858/tender-hong-kongs-central-harbourfront-event-space-opens-stricter-standards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3338858/tender-hong-kongs-central-harbourfront-event-space-opens-stricter-standards?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 04:50:47 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The issue of property rights and gaining consensus from more than 2,000 households of Hong Kong’s blaze-ravaged Wang Fuk Court will complicate rebuilding efforts, lawmakers and building experts have warned as new sites for redevelopment are proposed. Legislative Council members said on Tuesday that authorities should listen widely to the views of Wang Fuk Court homeowners before deciding whether to reconstruct the blocks on site or develop a new community at nearby plots to house affected... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335803/hong-kongs-wang-fuk-court-rebuilding-faces-consensus-rights-hurdles-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335803/hong-kongs-wang-fuk-court-rebuilding-faces-consensus-rights-hurdles-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:37:49 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung The government should take the lead in assessing the structural safety of the estate engulfed by Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades before deciding whether it should be restored or redeveloped, experts have said, warning of liability problems and a long road ahead. The future of Wang Fuk Court, where a massive fire raged through seven of its eight blocks for more than 43 hours before largely being put out, remains uncertain, with residents taking shelter or moving into temporary housing arranged... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334585/difficult-say-if-fire-ravaged-hong-kong-buildings-can-be-fixed-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334585/difficult-say-if-fire-ravaged-hong-kong-buildings-can-be-fixed-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 02:30:07 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au Edith Lin,Vivian Au Beatrice Mok* and her husband have mixed feelings about moving out of their crumbling old tenement building in To Kwa Wan, a Hong Kong district they have lived in for around four decades. The couple, both in their sixties, are finding the thought of bidding farewell to their quiet waterfront neighbourhood, dubbed the “five streets”, hard but the trek up the stairs of their eight-storey building, as well as dealing with bits of falling concrete and water leakage in their flat, also leaves them... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332551/good-deal-all-can-hong-kong-urban-renewal-bodys-payout-review-fix-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332551/good-deal-all-can-hong-kong-urban-renewal-bodys-payout-review-fix-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:30:18 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The cash compensation for Hong Kong flat owners affected by redevelopments should take into account the physical condition of the homes to encourage better maintenance, observers have said, as the renewal authority reviews its policy to address financial challenges. Their comments on Wednesday came days after the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) posted a deficit of HK$2.7 billion (US$350 million) for 2024-25, its third financial year in a row recording a loss. The cash-strapped body is expected to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3328199/should-hong-kongs-ura-tie-compensation-building-condition-analysts-say-yes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3328199/should-hong-kongs-ura-tie-compensation-building-condition-analysts-say-yes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 05:06:18 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au An application made to a scheme designed to boost Hong Kong’s housing supply by tapping into developers’ reserves has been withdrawn for the first time amid a lukewarm response, with experts attributing the move to a sluggish economy. Brasilia, a subsidiary of Lee On Investment (Holdings), made the withdrawal of its application to the Land Sharing Pilot Scheme for a plot measuring 3.1 hectares (7.7 acres) in Yuen Long involving more than 2,000 homes earlier this year. The government did not... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327878/first-developer-withdraws-hong-kong-land-sharing-scheme-amid-slow-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327878/first-developer-withdraws-hong-kong-land-sharing-scheme-amid-slow-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 11:08:18 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong lawmakers have raised concerns about insufficient policy support for a proposed industrial port in the western New Territories, with authorities saying more time is needed to draft comprehensive measures to attract leading companies to the city. Legislators shared their views on Tuesday after the Development Bureau revealed its proposal for a 301-hectare (744-acre) “smart and green industrial port” in Lung Kwu Tan and Tuen Mun West last week. The project covers four growth sectors –... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319186/more-support-needed-proposed-hong-kong-industrial-port-lawmakers-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319186/more-support-needed-proposed-hong-kong-industrial-port-lawmakers-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:55:38 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A revised expansion plan by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has triggered fresh anger among Pok Fu Lam residents, who have accused it of dismissing alternative sites without proper due diligence and only meeting them for three hours over the past eight months. But some lawmakers on Wednesday said the university had made “major concessions” by leaving a green belt in the area largely untouched and altering its proposal to instead consider building its global innovation centre on an adjacent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317594/university-hong-kongs-revised-it-hub-plan-angers-pok-fu-lam-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317594/university-hong-kongs-revised-it-hub-plan-angers-pok-fu-lam-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:09:53 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au Edith Lin,Vivian Au Hong Kong must instil investor confidence by eliminating uncertainties over the Northern Metropolis, a megadevelopment near the border viewed by Beijing as a test of the administration’s governance capability, analysts have said. The megaproject, featuring the city’s new innovation hub located in the northern New Territories, grabbed headlines again last month after a five-day visit by Beijing’s top official on Hong Kong affairs and subtle bargaining by the city’s major developers. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3317452/why-investor-confidence-key-acing-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3317452/why-investor-confidence-key-acing-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-test?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:30:11 +0000