Press Release

Joint Response to Policy Address 2013

• We welcome the Chief Executive’s Policy Address 2013. We support the measures proposed for housing and land supply and environmental protection and conservation in the Policy Address. We hope the Government can put in necessary resources and overcome the administrative hurdles and other resistance.
• We recommend the Government to draw up a holistic development blue print to integrate economic and industrial development strategies and population policies for the future of Hong Kong.
• We support reclamation outside Victoria Harbour to provide long term land reserves for Hong Kong subject to careful balance of environmental issues.
• We advocate a strategic planning approach in the new development areas to achieve coherent and sustainable new development.
• We agree with the long term planning for the provision for housing. We suggest the Government to proactively increase the provision of affordable housing to bridge the gap between public and private housing.
• We consider that Government should be cautious in changing GIC sites to residential use, such that the future need of GIC sites, the quality of urban space and the quality of life are not compromised.
• We propose the Government to simplify and to expedite the approval process with regards to land and housing development.
• We concur with the environmental proposals to include promotion of the betterment of our public realm, improving public space, streets and quality urban places related to the pedestrian environment.