Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, at the question-and-answer session of the media session on quarterly land sale programme for January to March 2014 today (December 18):
Reporter: Mr Chan, the land sale in the island Ping Chau and Tin Shui Wai, they are quite remote, do you think developers will actually be interested in buying these lands?
Secretary for Development: We are quite confident that the sites that we are going to put up for sale will be favorably received by the market. We have previously sold another site on the outlying islands. The support has been quite good. As to the two sites in Tin Shui Wai, Area 112 and Area 115, they are next to the wetland. Although it seems to be a little remote, the surroundings are excellent. And with the future development in the NENT (North East New Territories) and Hung Shui Kiu area, the transportation infrastructure for that particular area will be improved.
Reporter: How is the size of the long term housing supply target of the land sales?
Secretary for Development: This land sale is basically to implement what we have committed to the community at the beginning of the year when we launched the land sale programme. The long term housing strategy review at the moment touches upon another housing target. As you know, it is 470 000 with a proposed mix of public/private of 60 per cent versus 40 per cent. We are trying very hard to find land to meet the demand. Basically the targets mentioned in the Policy Address by the Chief Executive at the beginning of the year have been met. We are trying very hard to find land if a new target is to be adopted. Where are the additional new land? A number of initiatives have been undertaken. We are confident that with the community support, we will be able to meet it. But it is not going to be an easy task, because that would require a lot of rezoning and review of land use. When it comes to district level, we need the understanding and support of individual districts.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Issued at HKT 22:06
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