Kai Tak Flats Plan Is A Done Deal, Minister Says

Housing Secretary Winnie Ho said on Thursday that the government will not scrap its plan to build light public housing in Kai Tak, despite opposition from some sectors.

She was speaking on a Commercial Radio programme a day after lawmaker Kitson Yang said he had cancelled a planned protest against the housing project because the secretary had agreed to meet him this Sunday and will consider using other plots instead.

But Ho told the programme that no meeting with the lawmaker has been scheduled, and all eight plots set aside for light public housing across the territory will be used as planned, adding that details of the project have been tabled to the Legislative Council.

She said, however, that she would be happy to hear the views of lawmakers on how to make improvements.

“For the plots that we’ve chosen, we are very happy to discuss what can be done in the areas… For the light public housing, there will be plenty of room on the ground floor of each project for community facilities. We have heard from Tuen Mun residents that they would like some study rooms for children, as well as a playground and shops,” she said.

“We are very happy to listen to views that may benefit the residents of the light public flats and people living nearby.”

Speaking later on the same programme, Yang said he had retracted the application for a rally because the secretary had "kindly agreed to meet", but the date and time was yet to be confirmed.

He said he will continue to pitch his proposal for the government to switch the planned Kai Tak flats to two outdoor car parks, near Hoi Sham Park in To Kwa Wan and next to MegaBox in Kowloon Bay.

Yang said residents of Kai Tak are worried that the plan to develop the area into a central business district will be harmed if light public housing remains there indefinitely.