Reclamation and land formation

The fundamental solution to the problem of high property prices and rentals is to increase land and housing supply. Reclamation outside Victoria Harbour is one of the methods to increase land supply.

Many people do not know that the current-term Government has started a number of reclamation projects. Technical studies on reclamation in Siu Ho Wan on Lantau, Lung Kwu Tan in Tuen Mun and Ma Liu Shui in Sha Tin will be completed this year. The planning and engineering studies on the approximately 60-hectare reclamation in Ma Liu Shui and the approximately 200-hectare reclamation at Lung Kwu Tan will commence as soon as possible.

Another important reclamation site is Tung Chung. Today, the Development Bureau submitted a paper on the reclamation and advance works for the Tung Chung New Town Extension to the Legislative Council for funding approval. Among the 130 hectares of land to be formed at Tung Chung, about 121 hectares of land will be provided for development of over 40 000 subsidised and private housing flats for a planned population of about 120 000. If everything goes smoothly, the first population intake is expected in six years.

No matter how difficult the housing problem is, as long as we continue to rise to the challenges and stop wasting time, we can certainly resolve this critical livelihood issue that has been long been a major concern of Hong Kong people.

April 13, 2017