The Steering Committee on Land and Housing Supply, chaired by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, held its first meeting today (July 12) to discuss its work plans for the future.

     Mr Chan said at the meeting that the timely supply of land as well as public and private housing, together with adequate and effective provision of transportation, infrastructure, welfare, leisure and cultural facilities, is closely related to the sense of ownership and well-being of the people. Members of the Steering Committee must take a pragmatic attitude and press ahead with initiatives to expedite land and housing supply on all fronts, he said, adding that various departments must also strengthen co-ordination and streamline procedures to further enhance the speed, efficiency and quantity of land creation and housing construction, so as to foster more diversified development.

     During the meeting, members of the Steering Committee discussed the work plan of the Steering Committee for the second half of 2022, covering issues such as land supply, transport and streamlining development-related process.

     Specifically, the Development Bureau (DEVB) will expeditiously formulate a forecast of 10-year supply, with an annual breakdown, of developable land (i.e. spade-ready sites) and report to the Steering Committee in September. This will facilitate the review of the progress of land creation projects in their different stages, from studies to site formation, so as to ensure that the supply of land for various uses would materialise in a timely and practical manner.

     On streamlining statutory processes, the DEVB and the Environment and Ecology Bureau will submit to the Steering Committee in September concrete work plans on legislative amendments, including those for the Town Planning Ordinance, the Foreshore and Sea-bed (Reclamations) Ordinance, the Roads (Works, Use and Compensation) Ordinance, the Lands Resumption Ordinance and the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance. This is to prepare for the submission of relevant amendment bills to the Legislative Council by the end of the year as scheduled.

     Relevant policy bureaux will submit to the Steering Committee, in the fourth quarter of this year, proposals on enhancing the pertinent regimes, including how to institutionalise the concept of an infrastructure-led approach, and ways to enable more effective co-ordination among departments to optimise land uses for the provision of facilities needed by the community.

Ends/Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Issued at HKT 20:19

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