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Commenting on the issue of new practice notes by the Buildings Department today (January 31) to implement the policy to foster a quality and sustainable built environment in Hong Kong, the Secretary for Development, Mrs Carrie Lam, said that the Government was committed to putting into effect measures to address public concerns about "inflated buildings".
"The package of measures as detailed in the new practice notes represents a sensible balance between those concerns, particularly from a neighbourhood perspective, and the residents' aspirations for more green and amenity features in their housing estates," said Mrs Lam.
"Since announcement of the new measures, we noticed some other concerns expressed in public that the proposals were flawed and would affect the supply of housing units. We do not agree with those views. On the contrary, we believe that regulation of 'inflated buildings' would go some way towards removing local resistance against new housing developments and help speed up the building programme.
"We have also received suggestions that implementation of the new measures should be deferred to allow more time for the industry to make preparations. Again, we consider such requests not justified.
"We are grateful to the public for giving us a clear mandate for change in the course of the extensive public engagement undertaken by the Council on Sustainable Development. The new measures will take effect from April 1, 2011 as originally intended," Mrs Lam said.
"The Development Bureau will closely monitor the implementation of the new policy and continue to use existing channels to exchange views with the industry.
"I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Council on Sustainable Development for undertaking the public engagement in support of the policy review, and professional institutes and other stakeholders for their diligence in scrutinising draft practice notes which are now finalised for promulgation," Mrs Lam added.
Ends/Monday, January 31, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:51
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