HK's Leung places housing priority in maiden policy address

Leung also said that the Housing Department will step up its efforts to combat the abuse of PRH resources. Meanwhile, the Development Bureau (DEVB) and the Transport and Housing Bureau (THB) will examine all projects in the pipeline to increase the plot ratio appropriately.

As for the long term housing strategy, the Steering Committee is conducting a comprehensive review of public and private housing demand, including the demand for rental housing and home ownership, and devising a new long-term housing strategy.

Also, the Committee will assess the medium and long-term housing needs of different social strata and groups, set priorities and make long-term plans, he further elaborated.

In terms of land supply, Leung said the government will "continue to adopt a multi-pronged approach and step up its efforts to meet housing and other needs."

The government is obliged to increase land supply in the short, medium and long-term through optimal use of developed land and identifying new land for development at the same time, Leung mentioned.

Building caring society

Leung said while Hong Kong is a generally affluent society, there are still many people who live a hand-to-mouth existence." We must recognize poverty as a real problem, understand the problem's nature, and formulate specific and feasible policy measures to alleviate it," he noted.

Regarding helping the poor, Leung said governmental task forces concerned will work on different fronts, including supporting the underprivileged who have special needs, promoting education, employment and training, and engaging the community and fostering cross-sectional collaboration among the government, businesses and other sectors.

Leung said the government Commission on Poverty has identified setting a poverty line in light of the actual situation in Hong Kong as one of its priorities. "By setting a poverty line, the current-term Government shows its will and commitment to alleviating the poverty problem," said he.

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