Shorter public housing wait 'realistic and achievable'
A think-tank representative on Wednesday said the government’s target for cutting waiting times for public housing was reasonable and achievable, given that supply over the coming years was set to increase. That came in response to Chief Executive John Lee saying the government aims to shorten the waiting time to less than four years by 2030. Speaking to RTHK, Ryan Ip, the vice president of Our…
A government think-tank official stated on Wednesday that the target to reduce public housing waiting lists to under four years is feasible and prudent, considering the anticipated rise in housing supply. This assessment came after Housing Chief Executive John Lee announced the government's ambition to halve the current wait time to less than four years by 2030.
Ryan Ip, vice president of Our Hong Kong Foundation, endorsed the government's decision, noting that the upcoming five-year period will witness a doubling of public housing production compared to the previous five-year benchmark. Consequently, Ip deemed the reduction of the waiting period to four years as both realistic and attainable.
Moreover, Ip emphasized the significance of light public housing and transitional housing projects, projecting that approximately 30,000 units will be completed in the coming years. These accommodations will be instrumental in alleviating the strain on individuals residing in subdivided units. The official also commended the government's decision to prioritize the development of larger flats within future subsidized housing initiatives in the Northern Metropolis.
Ip labeled this initiative as a "strong first step," given the availability of ample land and housing resources in the region. However, Ip acknowledged that further deliberation is required for the establishment of university towns, taking into account factors such as campus layout, transportation infrastructure, and financial mechanisms.
Written by urgent.news from RTHK English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
