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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
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East Lantau metropolis expected to welcome its first batch of residents as early as 2034
Land on artificial islands in the central waters east of Lantau will be available in 2030 if reclamations start 2027, and the first batch of residents will be able to move in in 2034 the soonest, Secretary for Development Michael Wong said.
Speaking in a radio program yesterday, Wong said the option of developing East Lantau Metropolis had received considerable support when the Task Force on Land Supply collected views from the community.
Wong also said that the government is building 316,000 public housing units in the next 10 years, 5 percent more than the estimated demand for the same period.
"According to the current plan, two-thirds will be built relatively later in the hope of completing as soon as possible to solve the problem of inadequate housing, including sub-divided units," Wong said.
But he also pointed out that people live in sub-divided units for different reasons, including shortening the commute to work, which in the long-term, should be solved by other measures including creating new positions for people living in the neighborhood.
In addition to building transitional housing and implementing rent control for subdivided flats, the government will also promote the use of modular integrated construction to build public housing.
"We are pleased to see the Real Estate Developers Association has indicated that it would cooperate with the government in land development," Wong said.
Three projects of the Land Sharing Pilot Scheme are currently under discussion, hoping that the government and developers will increase positive interaction to reduce unnecessary disputes and cooperate in solving the housing problem in Hong Kong.
For example, the Urban Renewal Authority recently put forward proposals for the redevelopment of Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, including the transfer of plot ratio and integration of street areas, which the URA may not be able to complete alone.
"If there are more progressive rules and standards in the future, the market can be used by other participants to jointly develop the areas," Wong said.
He also said that the government will study the resumption of land, improve the Town Planning Ordinance, land gazetting legislation, and cooperate with the transport and environmental protection departments to speed up the completion of housing.
Wong also vowed the government will become a gate-keeper. When developers apply for an increase in plot ratio, they still have to convince the government that they will not affect the surrounding environment.
Wong also said that the government is building 316,000 public housing units in the next 10 years, 5 percent more than the estimated demand for the same period.
"According to the current plan, two-thirds will be built relatively later in the hope of completing as soon as possible to solve the problem of inadequate housing, including sub-divided units," Wong said.
But he also pointed out that people live in sub-divided units for different reasons, including shortening the commute to work, which in the long-term, should be solved by other measures including creating new positions for people living in the neighborhood.
In addition to building transitional housing and implementing rent control for subdivided flats, the government will also promote the use of modular integrated construction to build public housing.
"We are pleased to see the Real Estate Developers Association has indicated that it would cooperate with the government in land development," Wong said.
Three projects of the Land Sharing Pilot Scheme are currently under discussion, hoping that the government and developers will increase positive interaction to reduce unnecessary disputes and cooperate in solving the housing problem in Hong Kong.
For example, the Urban Renewal Authority recently put forward proposals for the redevelopment of Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, including the transfer of plot ratio and integration of street areas, which the URA may not be able to complete alone.
"If there are more progressive rules and standards in the future, the market can be used by other participants to jointly develop the areas," Wong said.
He also said that the government will study the resumption of land, improve the Town Planning Ordinance, land gazetting legislation, and cooperate with the transport and environmental protection departments to speed up the completion of housing.
Wong also vowed the government will become a gate-keeper. When developers apply for an increase in plot ratio, they still have to convince the government that they will not affect the surrounding environment.
