Model home:
Secretary for Housing & Transport Prof Anthony Cheung speaks to the media after inspecting a Greenview Villa show flat.
Model home:
Secretary for Housing & Transport Prof Anthony Cheung speaks to the media after inspecting a Greenview Villa show flat.
Greenview Villa interest reflects demand
December 21, 2012
The encouraging response to Greenview Villa, a Hong Kong Housing Society subsidised housing project, reflects people’s housing demands, Secretary for Housing & Transport Prof Anthony Cheung says.
Speaking to the media today after a site visit, Prof Cheung said that several thousand visitors had toured the project’s show flat that morning, showing strong public demand.
Aside from the 1,000 flats provided by Greenview Villa, Prof Cheung said the Government will consider how to make use of the land originally earmarked for constructing 5,000 flats under the My Home Purchase Plan.
In regard to housing supply, Prof Cheung said Greenview Villa is the first subsidised housing project to be put on sale by the new-term Government. Application forms will be distributed in January, and lots will be drawn in February.
Other measures to meet housing demands include the purchase of Home Ownership Scheme flats in the secondary market with premium not yet paid for White Form applicants in January, completion of new HOS flats in 2016-17 with pre-sale set for late 2014, and the sale of 800 remaining HOS flats in Tin Shui Wai in March or April.
Prof Cheung said there will be a supply of 67,000 private residential flats in the coming few years with some already under construction. He reiterated the Government’s determination to increase housing supply in the long term.
In response to suggestions to exempt buyers of local companies from the Buyer’s Stamp Duty, Prof Cheung said the Government has considered views from various sectors, including the Real Estate Developers Association.
Prof Cheung said such an exemption would easily create a loophole, thus undermining the stamp duty's effectiveness. However, he said the Government is willing to hold discussions with and explain the matter to legislators and relevant associations.
