HK leader places priority on solving housing issue
Source: Agencies |
January 17, 2013, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HONG Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said yesterday he'll make it a priority to solve the city's housing crisis, trying to soothe widespread discontent in his first major policy address since taking office.
Leung pledged to tackle soaring property prices that have left many residents unable to afford a decent place to live. He also said improving the city's poor air quality would be a priority.
Leung said he would make it a "top priority" of his government to "tackle the housing problem" as apartment prices are among the world's highest. Some residents are forced to rent units subdivided from already small apartments or even a metal cage in a room.
"Many families have to move into smaller or older flats, or even factory buildings," Leung said. "Cramped living space in cage homes, cubicle apartments and subdivided flats has become the reluctant choice for tens of thousands of Hong Kong people."
Leung appeared to acknowledge that the discontent poses a serious threat to his ability to manage one of Asia's wealthiest cities.
"I believe that home ownership by the middle class is crucial to social stability," Leung said, as he unveiled plans to provide 100,000 public housing apartments over five years starting in 2018. He promised to crack down on people abusing the public housing system by renting units out, which could help add 7,000 more units a year.
Leung also said he would make Hong Kong's air pollution problem a priority by getting older, dirtier diesel-engine vehicles off the road.
Leung pledged to tackle soaring property prices that have left many residents unable to afford a decent place to live. He also said improving the city's poor air quality would be a priority.
Leung said he would make it a "top priority" of his government to "tackle the housing problem" as apartment prices are among the world's highest. Some residents are forced to rent units subdivided from already small apartments or even a metal cage in a room.
"Many families have to move into smaller or older flats, or even factory buildings," Leung said. "Cramped living space in cage homes, cubicle apartments and subdivided flats has become the reluctant choice for tens of thousands of Hong Kong people."
Leung appeared to acknowledge that the discontent poses a serious threat to his ability to manage one of Asia's wealthiest cities.
"I believe that home ownership by the middle class is crucial to social stability," Leung said, as he unveiled plans to provide 100,000 public housing apartments over five years starting in 2018. He promised to crack down on people abusing the public housing system by renting units out, which could help add 7,000 more units a year.
Leung also said he would make Hong Kong's air pollution problem a priority by getting older, dirtier diesel-engine vehicles off the road.
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