Govt Rules Out Future Takeover Of Whole Golf Site

The government confirmed on Wednesday that it has accepted eight recommendations put forward by a task force on finding new land for housing, including using 32 hectares of the Fanling Golf Course.

But it has no plans to consider taking back the whole golf site, despite the Task Force on Land Supply calling for a study into how the remaining 140 hectares could be utilised.

Almost two months after the task force submitted its report, Development Secretary Michael Wong held a media briefing to deliver the government's response.

He said officials will start a technical study in the second half of this year to assess how many flats could be built on the 32 hectares at Fanling. Construction could begin in 2024, he said.

The Hong Kong Golf Club's lease of the site will expire next year and Wong said it will be renewed until June 2027, save for the part earmarked for housing. For this plot, a hold-over lease will be arranged and the government will take the land back in 2023.

"The decision of the CE-in-Council reflects the very careful balance of the needs of the community in the short to medium term of more housing, in particular public housing, and also the contributions of Fanling Golf Course to golf development in Hong Kong," Wong said.

Another of the task force's recommendations that has proved to be controversial is for land to be reclaimed east of Lantau. After a public consultation exercise, the task force said there was widespread support for a 1,000-hectare island to be created.

Wong said the government will carry out a detailed study on this proposal, but at the same time as it pursues Chief Executive Carrie Lam's "Lantau Tomorrow Vision" for 1,700-hectares of reclamation in the same area.

"That's the vision, that hasn't changed yet," Wong said. "We will focus our efforts on the 1,000 hectares of land to be reclaimed around Kau Yi Chau. With regards to the 700 hectares of land around Hei Ling Chau, at the moment's there's no timetable."

Wong said the government will also take up other options the task force has suggested, including developing brownfield sites and private farmland.

It will drop the idea of developing the fringes of country parks, after the move was not put forward by the task force.