Gov't must tackle land supply issue

July 3, 2018

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:
Land supply is always a very important topic in Hong Kong, especially after the announcement of the new housing policy initiatives on June 29. There has been a very strong aspiration for the Government to respond to the question: So where will the land come from? We love your policy, we like the pricing of the subsidised sale flats, but where is the housing to satisfy the demand for home ownership or to reduce the waiting time for public rental housing? So as a responsible senior official in the Hong Kong administration, we have to be able to respond to that question. And creating land by reclamation and by that I mean reclamation outside of the Victoria Harbour, because I was the same government official who came out to declare that we are not going to reclaim from within Victoria Harbour after the completion of the Central-Wan Chai Bypass. So reclamation outside the Victoria Harbour is, very obvious, one of the important land supply options. And Hong Kong’s development has always been relying on reclamation over many decades. So I am just responding to that question and being very candid.  Coming back to the Land Supply Task Force public consultation, they have already started it for two months now. I think by and large we have received a lot of views, we have heard a lot of opinions. So I of course respect the task force to continue its public engagement work but I have also made it known to the Chairman that they may wish to find a way to reflect the community views to us so that I could be in a position to make a more definite response in the coming Policy Address. I may not be able to provide all the solutions to Hong Kong’s long outstanding land shortage problem but to make no response at all on land supply in October when I announce my second Policy Address will not be able to meet the people's aspiration.

The Government should address the issue of land supply to meet public demand for housing.

Making the statement before today's Executive Council meeting, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said land supply is always an important topic, especially after the announcement of new housing initiatives on June 29.

"There has been a very strong aspiration for the Government to respond to the question: So where will the land come from?

"As a responsible senior official in the Hong Kong administration, we have to be able to respond to that question."

Asked about her earlier remarks on reclamation as a possible solution, Mrs Lam said she has no intention to influence discussions on land supply options amid a public consultation.

"Reclamation outside Victoria Harbour is, very obvious, one of the important land supply options. And Hong Kong's development has always been relying on reclamation over many decades."

Mrs Lam also asked the Task Force on Land Supply to reflect community views to the Government so she can come up with more measures to tackle the issue in her Policy Address.

"I may not be able to provide all the solutions to Hong Kong's long outstanding land shortage problem but to make no response at all on land supply in October when I announce my second Policy Address will not be able to meet the people's aspiration."