2 Hong Kong political parties to back funding bid for light housing scheme, as No 2 official calls on public to support Kai Tak project amid protest
- Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and Federation of Trade Unions members vow to back funding bid during Legco subcommittee vote
- Acting chief executive Eric Chan defends housing scheme, citing social value of providing help to needy in pricier and dilapidated subdivided flats
Two of Hong Kong’s major political parties have thrown their support behind a government bid for the Legislative Council to approve funds for a temporary housing scheme, while the city’s No 2 official sought to gather public support amid a protest against the project.
Legco members on Tuesday also urged authorities to provide sufficient community support to those living near areas set aside for the “light public housing” scheme and also sought more details on the project’s costs.
The Housing Bureau is seeking HK$14.9 billion (US$1.9 billion) in an initial funding request, which will be discussed by Legco’s Public Works Subcommittee on Wednesday and subject to a vote before being passed to the Finance Committee.
Lawmakers from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and the Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) told the Post they would support the funding request at the subcommittee vote, with the parties jointly accounting for about 15 seats on the 44-strong body.
Subcommittee member and DAB vice-chairman Holden Chow Ho-ding said his party would back the bill but also called on authorities to offer stronger incentives so residents would choose flats in Sheung Shui and Yuen Long that would be built under the scheme.
“Even for traditional public housing, sometimes citizens will be reluctant to live far away due to a lack of employment support, as commutes will be too expensive,” he explained.
“We hope the government will provide infrastructure for employment in those areas to encourage people to move there.”
