SDEV speaks to media

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, at a media session after attending the Legislative Council Panel on Development meeting today (June 24):

Reporter: Secretary, can you tell us whether there is any communication you had with the villagers affected by the new town development?

Secretary for Development: My colleagues are contacting the villagers there. The plan is for us to go to Fanling tomorrow to meet the villagers, to listen to their views and to exchange views.

Reporter:  Mr Chan, there are Legislative Council members and villagers who want the plan to be withdrawn but you say you will not withdraw it, so is there anything that you can discuss with them?

Secretary for Development: We cannot withdraw the plan. It is very important in terms of the medium term housing supply for Hong Kong because the NENT NDAs (North East New Territories New Development Areas) will produce about 60 000 units, 60 per cent of which are subsidised housing. I understand their concerns and requests.  We may not be able to meet all the requests, but I think it is important for us to sit down and talk, to have dialogue and to try our best to find the common ground. Thank you.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)


Ends/Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 21:06

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