The high cost and small size of accomadation has become a key public policy issue. RTHK file photo
The Development Secretary, Paul Chan, says there would be a plenty of affordable housing if just 1 percent of green belt sites were rezoned as residential land. However, he said a consensus would need to be reached on the issue.
Mr Chan said with property prices remaining sky-high, a lot of people are being forced to live in subdivided flats. He said society should think about whether it's time to face up to this hard reality. Speaking on TVB, he said if consensus can be reached on rezoning just 1 percent of green belt sites, it will not be hard to meet the government's housing target.
However, he stressed that country parks would remain untouched, as the administration has repeatedly promised not to build houses in those areas.
On Friday Mr Chan reacted to comments from the Chief Executive, CY Leung, that there is a need to review the New Territories Small House Policy - which allows male indigenous villagers to build a three-storey house. Mr Leung said the policy needs to be addressed in light of the need for more developable land.
But in response, Mr Chan said it isn't a priority for the government, as it involves complicated legal issues.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1236246-20160116.htm
