North East New Territories development plan to boost home supply

District extensions were also set.

Here are According to a report, Secretary for Development Paul Chan has announced revised plans for developing new areas in the North East New Territories, after considering views collected through public engagement.

At a press conference today, Mr Chan introduced the results of the North East New Territories New Development Areas Planning & Engineering Study, after major adjustments were made to the proposals.

The plan for Kwu Tung North and Fanling North new areas will extend Fanling and Sheung Shui districts, to provide for more than 170,000 new residents and around 37,700 job opportunities.

The revised plan has increased the development intensity and housing supply and raised the proportion of subsidised housing.

The plot ratio will be relaxed from 3.5 to 6 for the Kwu Tung area, and from 2 to 6 for Fanling North, to provide more land for housing. The number of residential flats to be built will increase from 47,300 to 60,700, accommodating about 174,900 people – a 31% increase from the previous plan.

“The new development areas will provide a very nice living environment after completion for local residents,” Mr Chan said.

The proportion of public housing in the new development areas will rise to 60%, occupying 47% of the land, including both Public Rental Housing and Home Ownership Scheme units. The first batch of housing units is expected to be completed in 2022-23.

For private housing, the Hong Kong people for Hong Kong property measure will be adopted as far as possible, he said. Flats built under this policy can only be sold and resold to Hong Kong residents.

The development of Ping Che and Ta Kwu Ling areas, originally planned mainly for special industry, will be set aside because of a lack of railway services. The plans for these areas will be reassessed for public consultation.

The Government will adopt the Conventional New Town Approach as the primary mode for implementing the proposals, and will allow applications for modification of lease, including in-situ land exchange, subject to specified critieria.

The Government also proposes special ex-gratia payments of up to $600,000 for affected residents who qualify. Land suitable for farming within the new development areas will be identified for affected farmers who wish to continue farming.

Mr Chan said the Government must balance demands and make difficult choices, and it has tried to balance different stakeholders' aspirations while keeping Hong Kong peoples' interests in mind.