FS oversees land, housing

July 6, 2022

Financial Secretary Paul Chan: 

The new working group set up by the Chief Executive, in respect of land supply and housing supply, is different from the previous one that I have been chairing in the previous (term of) Government. 
 
The previous one that I was chairing mainly focused on land supply, but now, under the new set-up, I will also be overseeing housing supply, and that is not just confined to public housing, but also private housing. 
 
Secondly, I will be overseeing the transport-related infrastructure as well as other infrastructures to make sure these infrastructures are in place in time, so that the development potential of the land along these infrastructures can be released. And also, it will be more convenient for the people moving into these areas. 
 
Thirdly, we will be publishing the forecast of land supply in the coming decade to enhance transparency and also enhance the oversight by the public of the work of the Government in this respect.        
 
And finally, I will also be overseeing the various ancillary community facilities to make sure those facilities are completed in time to support the residents moving in.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said he is leading a new working group overseeing both land and housing supply, noting that a 10-year land supply forecast will be published.

Chief Executive John Lee announced today the establishment of the Steering Committee on Land & Housing Supply and Task Force on Public Housing Projects to co-ordinate work relating to land and housing.

Mr Chan will chair the steering committee while Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong will lead the task force.

The finance chief told the media after attending a question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council this morning that the new working group set up by the Chief Executive is different from the previous one he chaired in the previous term of Government.

He said: “The previous one that I was chairing mainly focused on land supply, but now, under the new set-up, I will also be overseeing housing supply, and that is not just confined to public housing, but also private housing.”

Mr Chan pointed out that he would oversee the land's infrastructures including ones related to transport. The Financial Secretary added he would make sure the infrastructures were in place in time, enabling the land's development potential to be released.

He would also oversee the various ancillary community facilities to make sure those facilities are completed in time.

He believed the convenience provided by the infrastructures and facilities could attract people to move to these places.

“We will be publishing the forecast of land supply in the coming decade to enhance transparency and also enhance the oversight by the public of the work of the Government in this respect,” Mr Chan added.

Meanwhile, Mr Wong said the task force will submit specific proposals to the Chief Executive within the first 100 days of the new term of the Government, including putting forward proposals for expediting the construction of public housing, with a view to raising the production and speed of overall public housing supply, making Hong Kong a better place to live and work.