Public and private extension of the farmer started half a year

Among the eight land supply priority options submitted by the Land Supply Task Force (DPP) at the end of last year, including the use of private landlords in the New Territories agricultural land reserve building in the form of public-private partnerships, the Secretary for Development, Mr Wong Wai-lun, said last year’s Policy Address. The proposed “Land Sharing Pilot Scheme” aims to release such farmland for public and private development and is expected to formally accept applications in the second half of the year.

Pilot planning mechanism to be determined

According to the pilot scheme, the private agricultural land approved for public and private development, not less than 60% to 70% of the newly added floor area, will be used for the construction of public housing. The relevant land price can be deducted from the cost of reasonable infrastructure projects.

Mr Wong said that the report of the Land Supply Group recommended that the Government should establish a fair and equitable mechanism for public-private partnerships, set clear and consistent criteria, and be examined and approved by independent and transparent bodies. The Government is now in various areas. It is necessary to “think clearly”, including the establishment of a pilot scheme to ensure that the new mechanism is “reasonable” to the landholders. It is also necessary to balance the public interest and consider whether ecologically sensitive areas should be accepted for housing use.

Huang Weilun pointed out that the government is setting more specific guidelines and details on the implementation framework of the pilot program. The target is submitted to the Chief Executive in Council for consideration and approval this year, and the application will be accepted in the second half of the year.