Finalised report of Hong Kong 2030+ promulgated
8.10.2021

The Development Bureau and the Planning Department promulgated today (October 8) the finalised "Hong Kong 2030+: Towards a Planning Vision and Strategy Transcending 2030" (Hong Kong 2030+). Hong Kong 2030+ sets out the territorial spatial development strategy for the city beyond 2030, with assessments on the overall demand and supply of land over a 30-year period from 2019 to 2048 and recommendations on sources of supply underpinned by a spatial planning framework. The report projects the latest demand and supply of land for three broad categories of land uses over the projection period, viz housing, economic uses, as well as uses covering Government, Institution and Community (GIC) facilities, open space and transport infrastructure. It is projected that the overall demand for land would be about 6 200 hectares, considerably higher than the initial estimate of 4 800 hectares suggested in 2016. This is because the Government has taken a more visionary, forward looking and capacity creating approach in making the projection, assuming: an enhancement in home space when working out the overall land requirement for accommodating demand for an additional 1 million housing units, which would translate into average living space per person at 20 square metres/215 square feet (after an assumed 10 per cent home space enhancement) and 22 square metres/237 square feet (after an assumed 20 per cent home space enhancement); much stepped up demand for land to drive economic development leveraging on the opportunities arising from the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). It has assumed, for instance, a demand of at least 340 hectares of land for promoting the development of science, innovation and technology-related industries; and enhancement in the provision targets of GIC facilities, open space and transport infrastructure. For instance, the land per person ratio for open space has been increased to 3.5 square metres/38 square feet per person, higher than the assumed target of 2.5 square metres/27 square feet adopted in the Year 2016 round of projection and the actual provision of 2.7 square metres/29 square feet. The Hong Kong 2030+ also reinforces the adoption of a multi-pronged land supply strategy, setting out overall land supply of 7 300 hectares. This estimated supply comprises a committed land supply of 3 200 hectares (largely supply to be generated from various land development projects which are ongoing or are at relatively advanced stages of planning) and possible solution spaces of about 4 100 hectares to be available in the medium to long term. The latter are regarded as "solution spaces" because they would help address the 3 000 hectares of land shortfall when one takes the projected demand minus the committed land supply. The Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, said: "While the projected supply is higher than the projected demand, it should be prudent for the Government to make its best endeavours in taking forward the planning of this forecast supply. We need a buffer to cater for the possibility of certain sources of supply not being realised in quantum and/or timing due to feasibility or other reasons, and to better equip the city in meeting unforeseen circumstances and new demands that may come our way." Also speaking on the report, the Director of Planning, Mr Ivan Chung, said that Hong Kong 2030+ formulates a conceptual spatial framework for the future development of Hong Kong. "It shows a close-knit network of two metropolises (i.e. the Harbour Metropolis and the Northern Metropolis) and two development axes (i.e. Western Economic Corridor and Eastern Knowledge and Technology Corridor) with existing, committed and proposed urban nodes, and the conceptual transport links. The majority of solution spaces comes from potential supply from the two Metropolises, including 1 000 hectares from Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands representing an expansion of the Harbour Metropolis and close to 2 300 hectares from the Northern Metropolis," Mr Chung said. "The conceptual spatial framework will help us achieve agglomeration of economic activities for better synergy, offer opportunities for retrofitting the dense urban core and bring jobs closer to homes." Mr Wong added: "The finalised report demonstrates the Government's staunch commitment to responding to the needs and aspirations of the society and fostering inclusive growth, while capitalising on the opportunities brought by the National 14th Five-year Plan and the Outline Development Plan for the GBA.". The finalised Hong Kong 2030+ report is available at Planning Department's website: www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/p_study/comp_s/hk2030plus/index.htm .