HKBWS Suet Mei

Is land supply shortage the real cause of “pricy, tiny and cramped” housing?

LandSupply_chi (811x1024).jpg (292.21 KB)

28/06/2018 15:04

政府於上年成立土地供應專責小組（下稱「小組」），並於今年四月二十六日宣佈就18個土地供應選項作為期五個月的公眾諮詢。但諮詢文件與政府去年發佈的《香港2030+：跨越2030年的規劃遠景與策略》類同，繼續將香港「貴、細、擠」的住屋問題簡化並歸咎於「土地匱乏」。反之，存在多年的資源分配不均、人口政策及經濟結構等關鍵性因素卻沒被提出討論。是次公眾諮詢的設定不但反映政府無意針對社會問題的成因對症下藥，更有誤導市民支持開發土地之謙。而當中的土地選項有位於生態敏感的地方，甚至將開發郊野公園及水塘列為選項當中。更甚者，行政長官早前更不負責任地挑起事端，批評反對填海的環保團體罔顧現時居住於環境惡劣的小朋友的住屋需要（詳見：https://www.hk01.com/社會新聞/171399/林鄭月娥為居劏房兒童發聲-批環保人士-代海出聲-反填海），試圖將兩者置於虛設的對立面。

其實土地供應跟我們及下一代的生活息息相關，本會呼籲大家積極了解是次公眾諮詢。除了政府的諮詢文件外，市民亦可從民間研究團體所出版的更全面了解政府提出的18個土地選項的利與弊，並提出你們對諮詢文件的意見，以及對香港未來發展的期望。本會亦會仔細研究相關文件，稍後會將意見書與大家分享。

>>土地供應專責小組《土地匱乏，如何解決》諮詢文件：
http://www.landforhongkong.hk
提交意見截止日期：2018年9月26日
電郵地址：tfls@devb.gov.hk

*此外，亦可參考本土研究社及民間土地資源小組製作的《好誠實研究》：
http://www.landfordaycharmsheung.hk

The Task Force on Land Supply (the Task Force) was established by the Government last year, and on 26 April 2018 the Task Force announced a five-month public consultation on 18 land supply options. However, the public consultation document is similar to the Government’s "Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030" in simplifying Hong Kong’s problem of “pricy, tiny and cramped” housing and blame it on land shortage. Other critical factors, such as Hong Kong’s uneven distribution of resources, population policy and economic structure, were not mentioned for discussion. It failed to identify the real causes of the current social problems and provide corresponding solutions, but instead, it directs the public to support land development. The land supply options include ecologically sensitive areas and specifically mention developing land in Country Parks and even reservoirs. Even more shocking, the Chief Executive has irresponsibly stirred up conflict by blaming green groups who object to reclamation for denying housing to children living in extremely poor living condition (link: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2138764/prefabricated-social-housing-hong-kongs-needy-may-be). It reveals her attempt to put the two in a contradictory state that does not really exist.

Land supply is closely related to all our daily lives and our next generations, the Society thus hopes everyone would take time to understand the current public consultation. Before submitting your comments on the consultation document and your thoughts on the future development of Hong Kong, you are strongly recommended to go through not only the papers published by the government, but as well by the local concern groups. We will carefully study the relevant documents as well and share our thoughts later.

>>Public consultation document -"How to tackle land shortage?":
http://www.landforhongkong.hk
Deadline for submission: 26 September 2018
Email: tfls@devb.gov.hk

*It is also worth reading "Your Real Choice: Honest Consultation on Land Supply" published by Liber Research Community and Citizens Task Force on Land Resources:
www.landfordaycharmsheung.hk

K_Chan

Thanks to Suet Mei posting the reminder on the Task Force, and throwing the question "Is land supply shortage the real cause of “pricey, tiny and cramped housing"?

As to the public engagement exercise captioned "Land for Hong Kong: Our Home, Our Say!", are there any House Views from the HKBWS? And, just some basic premises to rethink:
(1) Land Shortage = Land Supply Shortage?
(2) Pricey flats solely wholly and exclusively a result of land (supply) shortage?
(3) How complementary btw Conservation and Development?

HKBWS Chuan

Thanks K_Chan for your comments and ideas.

We are still tided up with other issues at the moment and will study the public consultation document a bit later. We will share with all of you our views on the land supply consultation once we are ready, and it won't be too late such that you all have time to digest our comments and the consultation document as well. I do hope to share the views of the Society with all members as soon as possible.

irsychan

In my opinion, the problem is not inadequate land.  There is more than adequate land resource in the hands of the property developers.
The true problem is the high property price, which is hardly affordable by most people.
If the Government has the guts to confront the property developers to protect the well-being of the people, there is no need to build public housing.  After all, public housing is anti-capitalism.
An interesting fact is:  "Hong Kong is the least affordable housing market for eighth time in a row", whereas "the ten most affordable housing markets are all in the United States"!  (https://hongkongbusiness.hk/resi ... -eighth-time-in-row)