Legislators have moved to debating motions focusing on expediting the Northern Metropolis development laid out in the city’s first five-year plan and the Policy Address as they entered the second day of the three-day debate on the two blueprints on Thursday.

Dennis Leung of the Federation of Trade Unions said officials could consider allowing more companies to participate in the mega project's railway infrastructure development through public-private partnership, noting that only having the MTR be responsible would not be conducive to enhancing speed and efficiency.

He also highlighted the need for sufficient transport support.

“The number of parking spots as well as the density of public transport interchanges should be significantly increased at new development areas so as to ensure convenient travel for residents and prevent the areas from becoming a transit desert," Leung said,

Augustine Wong from the real estate and construction sector hailed the government’s move to increase the proportion of subsidised flats that are at least 45 square metres from the current 20 percent to 25 percent for projects completed from 2031-2032 at the Northern Metropolis.

He said authorities should also take into account the per-capita living space when allocating housing.

“Because even if the floor area of a flat is increased, if the number of occupants increases simultaneously, the per-capita living space actually remains unchanged," Wong said.

In regards to the overall housing supply breakdown over the next decade – 40 percent public rental housing, 30 percent subsidised sale flats, and 30 percent private residential homes – he said the government could help ensure there was an adequate supply of all types of units.

Election Committee’s Carmen Kan noted the government was determined to speed up the mega project’s development by setting a binding target to produce 900 hectares of spade-ready sites over the next five years.

She was concerned over the present lack of a specific tax relief for the mega project, asking whether introducing one could make the project uniquely appealing.

On student housing at the Northern Metropolis University Town, medical-sector representative David Lam said the government could explore the possibility of public-private cooperation in constructing and operating such facilities, with developers offered concessionary land prices to build private housing reserved for student accommodation.




Edited by Tony Sabine