2010 Policy Address: Undeveloped land taken back

Undeveloped land, previously granted to operators may be taken back by the Government, the Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On said yesterday at a press conference. More details will be given by the secretary for Public Works and Transportation, Lau Si Io, during his presentation of the 2010 Policy Address (LAG).
“We will do a proper revision of the situation. If developers have no intention to develop the land, the Government will take legal procedures to take it back,” the Chief Executive told reporters, after the presentation of this year’s Policy Address.
Several concerns have been raised against a few developers, especially from the gaming sector, who have not fulfilled their commitment with the Government. Yesterday, for the first time, the Executive announced that something would be done to solve the problem.
The Chief Executive said the secretary Lau Si Io would give more details on March 31, when he presents the policies for Public Works and Transportation at the Legislative Assembly. Moreover, he disclosed what would happen if the Government decided to take the land back.
“Some will be submitted to tendering procedures and others for construction of housing,” he said.
Chui Sai On assured the public that the five new lots of land reclamation will be be developed to improve the quality of life of the population. These assurances had already been made by the previous Government led by Edmund Ho.
While he said the new lots will be used for building social housing and other facilities focused on community needs, there was still a chance for the casinos. “Of course if there is any left over, it will be used for industrial and commercial development. But that is not our priority,” he said.
Social housing was one of the issues emphasized most in the 2010 LAG. At the press conference, Chui Sai On pointed out that many people are “concerned about land issues. I can say that our commitment is to build 19,000 social housing units by 2012”.
He also disclosed that the committee for social housing, recently announced by the secretary Lau Si Io, would take office in April. It will be in charge of coordinating everything that concerns social housing, including the waiting lists.