Land and Development Advisory Committee holds meeting
10.1.2023

At its meeting today (January 10), the Land and Development Advisory Committee (LDAC) was briefed on the preliminary proposals under the Study on the Artificial Islands in the Central Waters, as well as the proposed measures to update and streamline the compulsory sale regime. Members welcomed the development proposals for the Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands, which would provide land to develop a core area of a new generation with a third Central Business District and liveable communities with housing and community and leisure facilities. Members expressed support towards the Government's initiative to continue planning for the medium- to long-term needs of the city in a forward-looking manner. Members suggested the Government to keep in view the evolving demands for different types of land, and explore room for further enhancing livability and readiness of the artificial islands in coping with climate change and promoting biodiversity as it continued with the planning and implementation of the project. Members also saw room for fostering synergy of the proposed transport network with existing infrastructures, adding that it would be important to take timely actions if necessary to address the impact on the capacities of the existing network. Members considered it important for the Government to continue communication with the public and stakeholders given the impact of the proposals on the entire community and urged the Government to reach out to the banking and financing sectors early to garner views on financing options. The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, thanked Members for their valuable suggestions. She shared with Members that the project was currently at the stage of planning and engineering studies and further work would need to be done to develop concrete and detailed proposals. Nearer the time when formed land would start to be delivered, the Government would firm up detailed implementation plans for land disposal and building works having regard to prevailing circumstances and re-visit policy issues, such as the setting of appropriate minimum flat size for housing to be built on the artificial islands. She added that to enhance community participation through an inclusive approach, the Government had invited professional institutes to form a collaborative platform for on-going engagement on the design issues. The Development Bureau (DEVB) would take into account Members' views and continue to solicit public support through other public engagement efforts. Members welcomed the Government's proposed initiatives to update and streamline the compulsory sale regime under the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance (Cap. 545) to facilitate urban renewal of old areas, acknowledging that there was an imminent need for more effective policy measures on this front against the backdrop of ageing building profile. Members noted the four policy directions of the proposals, namely lowering the thresholds for compulsory sale applications, facilitating multiple adjoining-lot applications, streamlining the process, and enhancing support to affected minority owners. They appreciated the Government's efforts in striking a balance between expediting redevelopment and protecting the interests of minority owners, and supported the establishment of a dedicated office within the Government to provide one-stop support services to minority owners at different stages of compulsory sale. Members gave suggestions on the implementation details, which the DEVB undertook to take into account together with the views to be collated from other stakeholders such as professional institutes, property industry and owners' organisations. The Government's target is to introduce the amendment bill into the Legislative Council in the latter half of 2023.