'Brownfield Land Plan A Breakthrough In Thinking'

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Wednesday that her administration has had a "breakthrough in thinking" when it comes to finding new land for public housing, and planning officials will be told to look into seizing up to 160 hectares of brownfield sites in the New Territories.

In her policy address, Lam said that in total, some 450 hectares of brownfield land could have the potential for development, and a study involving 160 hectares of this land will be underway by the end of the year.

She said that these private plots are relatively large in size and are near to towns and major roads, such as sites at Lam Tei in Tuen Mun, and Ping Shan near Yuen Long.

Meanwhile, seven hectares of land are going to be seized in Kowloon East to build a new community, mostly comprised of public housing, the CE said.

There are some 800 squatter homes in the areas affected; Cha Kwo Ling Village, Ngau Chi Wan Village and Chuk Yuen United Village, and those living there will be compensated and rehoused.

A third type of land is also going to be taken back and this involves plots zoned for high-density housing but for which there are currently no development plans in place due to various reasons, such as fragmented ownership or infrastructural constraints.

Lam said her controversial Lantau Tomorrow Vision reclamation plan is still going ahead. But the authorities are going to spare no effort in explaining what it involves, in light of concerns regarding the hefty price tag and the cost to the environment, she added.

The city's leader said she wants the public to see that the government is using its "full strength to develop land" for the people.

"My proposal to adopt a more focused approach for rezoning private land for public housing development, and then exercising public power to resume private land for public purpose, is indeed a breakthrough in thinking," she said.