The former Chief Executive CY Leung has proposed in his Policy Address to study the development of public housings on the periphery of country parks. Since then, the government has repeatedly attributed the housing issues to country parks. In May 2018, Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) has been invited by the government to undertake a study on ecological value and development potential of two areas on periphery of country parks. Meanwhile, The Task Force on Land Supply (Task Force) was established under the Development Bureau in September 2017. The Task Force has selected 18 land supply options and initiated The Big Debate on Land Supply. “Developing two pilot areas on the periphery of country parks” and “Developing More Areas on the Periphery of Country Parks” have been listed under “Short-to-medium term options” and “Conceptual options” respectively.
Green and concern groups received an invitation to attend a consultation meeting on 11 July 2018 to comment on the proposed ecological survey methodology. We are discontented with the government’s proposal on developing the Country Parks, which the original intention of the Country Park Ordinance and the functions of Country and Marine Parks Board have been ignored. This will also undermine the well-established and effective system for protected areas. On the one hand, the government has appointed the Task Force to provoke a discussion and to seek for a consensus from public engagement. On the other hand, the government has already started to plan for the development of Country Parks. These reveal the government’s intention on development of Country Parks. Therefore, we refused to join the consultation meeting with the premise of developing Country Parks.
The Conservancy Association reiterates that country parks are invaluable assets to Hong Kong, which contain important ecological, recreational and educational values. Country parks also play an important role in protecting water gathering grounds. There is no such concept or term as “periphery of Country Parks”. The study areas provided to HKHS are clearly within the Country Parks. Developing Country Parks contradicts the Ordinance, and will create an undesirable precedent and irreversible impacts on the environment.
In addition, CA believes that there is no conflict between grassroots’ housing issues and environmental conservation. As early as 1992, the Agenda 21, issued by the United Nation, has already pointed out that enjoying proper housing is a basic human right and the government should conduct land planning without destructing the environment. On 16 July 2018, CA together with green groups and grassroots concern groups, issued a joint statement to express our discontentedness over the government. We questioned that the government has deliberately created an opposition between green groups and grassroots concern groups in order to cover up the long-standing injustice of land planning and housing issues. We urge the government to use land resources wisely (e.g. prioritize the planning of brownfields, use part of the lands from urban redevelopment projects to build public housings) and to improve existing housing policy.
Joint Statement: Green groups refuse to participate in the destruction of Country Parks (Chinese Only)
No conflict between housings and the environment - We want adequate housings, and country parks (Chinese Only)
