Fanling Golf Course and Public Housing: Government Proposal Met with Opposition from Golfing Community and Support from Community Organizations

The government proposed to the Town Planning Board to use part of the land of Fanling Golf Course for the construction of public housing, but it was temporarily revised to the “undecided use” zone earlier this month. The Town Planning Commission held a public meeting yesterday to listen to opinions and representations. A representative of an international golf event organizer pointed out that any change in the venue may affect the location of the event. Ling Jiaqin, the former director of the Planning Department, believes that the housing construction plan of the authorities has been properly balanced, which is in line with the government’s commitment and commitment to the society.

The public meetings of the TPB last for 5 days. Representatives from the Hong Kong Golf Club and the “Saudi Arabia LIV Golf Tournament” who came to Hong Kong specially attended the public hearing on the first day. Guo Yongliang, president of the Hong Kong Golf Club, questioned the authorities at the meeting, saying that for 9 hectares of land, it is necessary to destroy the oldest golf course in Asia with a history of more than 100 years. He also pointed out that Fanling Golf Course is the only golf course in Hong Kong that can host international golf competitions and golf events. To criticize the authorities for taking back the land is to disregard the overall interests of Hong Kong. Guo Yongliang also pointed out that there are many lands with an area of ​​9 hectares around the Fanling Golf Course and even in Hong Kong, which can be used as an alternative to building houses at the Fanling Golf Course. He believes that the government should take an open attitude towards this.

Victoria Jones, the race director of the “Saudi Aramco Team Series”, came to Hong Kong from Singapore to participate in the public hearing. She pointed out that any change of the venue would bring risks to their decision on the location of the race. She described that the 8 holes involved in the land are very important to the infrastructure of the event and the guest experience, and may affect event partners, sponsors, etc.

Government’s goal of building public housing remains unchanged

Ling Jiaqin, the former director of the Planning Department, expressed his support for the authorities to resumption of land for housing construction, saying that the authorities have struck an appropriate balance between housing and conservation, which is in line with the government’s commitment and commitment to the society, and is an important factor in whether Hong Kong’s public housing supply can meet the standards in the next ten years . He said that the current supply of public housing is “heavy at the head and heavy at the end”, and this time the land use involves 12,000 public housing units. If the plan changes, it will have a huge impact on the short-term supply of public housing.

Ling Jiaqin also pointed out that the development of land in the northern metropolitan area has to go through many statutory planning procedures, environmental impact assessment procedures, and statutory gazette procedures for infrastructure projects. In various land reclamation projects, almost every piece of land must relocate residents and existing brownfield operations, and there is no so-called “quick cooking and ready-to-eat” option.

Feng Wuyang, senior urban planner of the Planning Department, reiterated at the meeting that the government’s goal of building public housing remains unchanged, and the temporary revision to “undecided use” is just a matter of time to review the development density and layout, and the government will take over the land as scheduled in September this year .

Community organizations petition in support of land resumption for housing

Several members of the Association of Community Organizations petitioned before the meeting, hoping that the Town Planning Board could maintain the land for public housing purposes. Shi Lishan, deputy director of the association, said that there are currently more than 220,000 residents living in unsuitable housing such as cage houses, cubicles, and subdivided houses with harsh conditions, and need to improve their living environment. She was worried that the authorities would reduce the number of proposed units and make it take longer to go upstairs.

In addition, the Development Bureau announced yesterday the establishment of the Northern Metropolitan Coordination Office, with Yau Cheuk-hang as the director of the office. The Northern Metropolitan Office is the department responsible for the development of the northern metropolitan area. It is responsible for coordinating, advocating and promoting the development of the northern metropolitan area. It will formulate and announce the action plan and specific plans for the northern metropolitan area within this year.

Yau Cheuk-hang joined the Administrative Service in July 1997. He worked in the Home Affairs Department, the former Home Affairs Bureau, the former Environment, Transport and Works Bureau, the Housing Department, the Chief Executive’s Office and the Security Bureau. From December 2018 to February 2023 He served as the Deputy Secretary-General (Planning and Lands) of the Development Bureau in January, and then as the Director of the Preparatory Office for the Northern Metropolitan Area.

Originally published on AM730