DRAFT SPEECH BY HON F K HU, OBET LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL VY DECEMBER 1987
Land Development Corporation Bill 1987
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We are all proud of Government's long-term plan in the development of new towns and land production programme to cope with the progress of the Hong Kong economy and increase in population resulting in a greater demand for housing. However, relatively little attention has been paid to urban renewal, which has been more or less left to the private sector resulting in piecemeal development.
In many old urban areas the problem of dilapidated
buildings, lack of community facilities, overcrowding, traffic
congestions and other related matters are of great concern to the
general public. If these old urban areas can be redeveloped
according to a comprehensive well-coordinated plan, the land can
be more efficiently used to accommodate more people in better
environments and with more badly needed community facilities.
Urban Improvement Scheme of the Hong Kong Housing Society is a
good example of planned urban renewal projects.
The
The basic problems in large scale urban renewal scheme are that the issues involved are highly complicated. They include land acquisition, refhousing, financing and coordination which all lead to ineffective and time consuming implementation. Such
problems cannot easily be resolved by the private sector without
the intervention of Government.
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This is an area where Government can utilise effectively
the resources from both public and private sectors in achieving
the final objectives of urban renewal. This is the concept of the
Land Development Corporation (LDC) which is fully appreciated and
supported by all parties including private developers,
professionals and those having the interest of the general public
in mind.