Following is the text of the opening remarks made by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the press conference on the Policy Agenda today (January 11).
I wish to highlight the major policy objectives and strategies of the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau for the coming five years.
Last November I made a statement on the SAR Government's housing policy. I also announced a series of measures to help restore public confidence in the property market.
In the next five years, we will concentrate our efforts on the following major tasks:
(a) monitoring closely the demand for public rental housing through a rolling housing development programme that will be adjusted annually, in order to keep the average waiting time at no more than three years;
(b) continuing to provide assistance to families with special needs (including the elderly and hardship households);
(c) adopting a more flexible mode of housing subsidies (e.g. rental allowance and loan);
(d) facilitating the smooth operation of the property market, including proposals to relax tenancy control for private rental housing; and
(e) putting in place a title registration system.
Looking forward, we will implement our public housing policy under the strict principle of ensuring the effective use of our valuable housing resources. Discussions between the Government and the Housing Authority on a new set of financial arrangements are underway. In conjunction with the Government, the Housing Authority will seek to streamline its internal structure and the establishment of the Housing Department to keep pace with new circumstances. The Housing Authority will also conduct a detailed assessment of its financial position and future funding means, including the divestment options for its retail and car parking facilities. Further opportunities for outsourcing its services will also be explored.
Planning and lands policies would go hand in hand with the comprehensive housing policy. I wish to highlight a few major areas here.
On land supply, we would put in place a comprehensive monitoring mechanism and an early warning system to ensure the timely provision of land for residential development. Furthermore, we would include various types of land in the Application List as appropriate to ensure that changing market needs are satisfied.
On the use of land, I intend to review the small house policy in a comprehensive manner. We will consult various stakeholders along the way for further study and discussion with the community.
The Urban Renewal Authority has been playing a pivotal role in carrying out a comprehensive urban renewal programme to address the problem of urban decay. However, redevelopment alone cannot catch up with the pace of urban decay. Further, not all old buildings have to be pulled down; many may be renovated and restored. The Urban Renewal Authority is now mapping out its rehabilitation strategy. One of my major tasks in the next few years is to promote building management and to encourage property owners to accord importance to building maintenance and safety. We will also initiate discussions with the concerned professional bodies, with a view to fostering the development of one-stop services for building management and maintenance to building owners in a more comprehensive manner. Moreover, we will continue to work with the Home Affairs Bureau to educate building owners about the importance of timely maintenance.
In the days ahead, we will formulate a long-term, forward-looking development strategy for Hong Kong. The Planning Department has commenced a study entitled "Hong Kong 2030 - Planning Vision and Strategy" with a view to formulating development strategies in respect of our land use, transport and environmental needs. Under the new circumstances, there will be room for us to apply the planning standards flexibly and to re-assess the development density of the new development areas in response to the public's aspirations for better quality of living.
Land lease conditions, planning procedures and building requirements are there to serve the community. We will continue to streamline the development plan process to eliminate possible duplication, fast-track referrals and processing, and to firmly anchor the responsibility for technical details in the professionals.
Mindful of the latest developments in Hong Kong, my major task ahead will be to ensure that all available housing and lands resources are put to the best use. I will work together with relevant parties to achieve a synergy of operation in order to enhance efficiency and optimization in the use of resources and expertise. I wish to call upon your support so that we may work together for the long term planning and housing development of Hong Kong.
Thank you.
End/Monday, January 13, 2003
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