Reform Hong Kong’s town-planning process, roll out measures to ease housing woes, property specialists urge government
- Shih Wing-ching, founder of Centaline Group, suggests Town Planning Board give rezoning priority to projects offering a greater number of flats
- Federation of Public Housing Estates chief Anthony Chiu calls on government to provide more public rental units for families in need
Shih Wing-ching, founder of one of the city’s biggest real estate agencies Centaline Group, also said it was “far-fetched” to believe Beijing would target and clamp down on property tycoons when their support was needed to solve the housing shortfall.
Shih told a radio programme on Wednesday that sweeping reforms to the town-planning process were needed to boost housing supply and suggested the Town Planning Board give rezoning priority to projects offering a greater number of flats.
“Members of the Town Planning Board must be willing to place an overwhelming emphasis on boosting the supply of residential flats to the degree that land supply will see an increase,” he said.
Shih also added that given the important role property developers played in solving the city’s housing issues, it was unlikely Beijing would “clamp down on them” when their support and cooperation were needed to help implement policies smoothly.
