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The International Housing Conference 2004, held in February, provided the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, with a forum to describe Hong Kong’s achievements in the area of public housing.
Mr Tung commented that 2003 marked the 50th anniversary of public housing development in Hong Kong. With an overall density of about 6,200 people for every square kilometre of land, one of the highest densities in the world, he said, “you can see that housing development is a huge challenge for our planners, architects and engineers.”
The challenge first became apparent after the Second World War, when a huge influx of people and rapid economic development combined with the limited supply of land, necessitated the provision of subsidised housing to people in need. “Today, of the over two million households in Hong Kong, about half are living in subsidised public housing,” said Mr Tung.
Since July 1, 1997, the HKSAR Government has made great efforts to realize its goals in the area of housing. “The number of Hong Kong people who live in substandard or overcrowded accommodation now stands at an all-time low,” said Mr Tung. “The average waiting time for housing has fallen from over 6 years to just over 2.”
Private sector housing has also faced major challenges, in particular, the Asian financial crisis of 1997, which contributed to a 70% fall in property prices. Since then, Mr Tung pointed out, the improving economic climate underscores the Government’s determination to maintain a stable environment to enable the sustained and healthy development of the property market.
Improving Hong Kong’s living environment is a major focus, said Mr Tung. Better urban design, protection of natural and cultural heritage, sustainability and energy efficiency in housing development will all contribute to an enhanced lifestyle. Lessons learned during the SARS outbreak have emphasized the need for a cleaner, healthier and more hygienic environment for all residents.
“All these initiatives aim to realize our vision of Hong Kong as ‘Asia’s World City’”, he concluded, “a pleasant and healthy environment in which to live, work and do business.”
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