The Land and Building Advisory Committee (LBAC) today (December 1) discussed the issues covered in the Stage Three Public Consultation of the Hong Kong 2030 Study, which include the key assumptions for drawing up the reference scenario, planning options to meet future development requirements and the alternative 'what-if' scenarios.
"Members generally welcomed the suggestion of lowering the development density which would help improve our living environment. However, Members were of the view that any reduction of development density could only take place in new development areas mainly in the New Territories or land yet to be leased out. Otherwise, it would serve as a disincentive to urban renewal and private property rights might also be affected," Professor Yeung Yue-man, Chairman of the Committee, quoted Members comments.
"Some Members considered that given the pace of change of the modern world and the trend of globalization, we might not need to make specific choices for the next 20 or 30 years. Instead, we should have some rolling plans and built-in mechanism in our system to allow flexibility so that we could always be prepared to adapt to the fast-changing needs of the society.
"Given the above, some Members were of the view that there were proposals in the consultation document that we should take on board immediately, such as the idea of having a "trade expo", or otherwise we would lose out to our competitions," Professor Yeung added.
End/Monday, 1 December 2003
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