Unleash Your HK Spirit Over Kai Tak Flats: Minister

Housing minister Winnie Ho on Tuesday again rejected criticism of the government's selection of Kai Tak as a site for light public flats, appealing to people to adopt their "Hong Kong spirit" and come together to support the plan.

Some residents of the district have accused the government of breaking its promise for the former airport site, saying the temporary housing scheme deviates from plans to turn Kai Tak into Hong Kong's second core business district - something the administration denies.

In a Ta Kung Pao article, Ho cites critics of the plan as saying Kai Tak would be "too good a place" for the light public flat tenants and they wouldn't want to move out in future.

But the minister stressed that this would not be possible, since the housing is only temporary and the plot will be put to another use after five years.

She said if tenants reject offers of a traditional public flat three times during their stay, they will lose their place in the queue.

Ho said the housing problem is something for everyone in society to resolve together and this scheme is a social project that needs the support of all sides.

"If a remote site is criticised for being unattractive for needy residents, and an ideal location is 'an unreasonable site selection', then no solution would work," she wrote.

The minister called on the public to unleash their Hong Kong spirit over the matter and for the flats to be built at "Hong Kong speed" in order to change the destiny of grassroots people.