Hong Kong sets sights on shaving up to 6 years off land formation process by first half of 2023, as advocacy group warns of reduced public input
- Development Bureau says changes to legislation would also empower officials to take action against landowners damaging unrestricted rural areas with ecological value
- But advocacy warns amendments could limit public input, making it easier for controversial land development projects to be approved
Authorities have said they aim to reduce the duration of Hong Kong’s land formation process by as much as six years by the first half of 2023, as an advocacy group raised concerns that streamlining procedures could limit public participation.
The remarks from the Development Bureau on Thursday referred to a proposal to amend six bills that would cut bureaucratic red tape to speed up land development, including shortening a town planning mechanism from 11 months to seven by compressing three rounds of public consultations into one.
The legislative changes would also empower officials to take legal action against landowners who damaged unrestricted rural areas with high ecological value, it said.
The proposed amendments will be introduced to the Legislative Council for a first reading next Wednesday, with the government saying it hoped they would be passed by the first half of next year.
If approved by lawmakers, the time required to transform a plot into “spade-ready” land would be reduced from the current six years to four, while the wait for large-scale projects would be cut back from 13 years to seven.
