The development of the North East New Territories is no easy task, despite the accordance of the Government’s housing policy with people’s aspirations

有人說，香港地少人多，導致樓價高踞不下。其實，香港已開發土地僅佔總面積兩成多，港府落實房策面對所謂「地從何來」難題，根本就是偽命題。說到底，港府多年來沒有做好土地規劃，加上管治弱勢，總是遇難而退，半途而廢，以致房屋問題愈演愈烈。

中大日前發表香港房屋土地供應及發展民調結果，顯示逾七成受訪者不滿房屋土地供應不足，逾八成市民支持發展新界東北。特首梁振英援引這項民調，認為與港府對問題的認知完全一致。既然如此，為何當局提出的拓地建議，不論是新界東北發展計劃，還是填海造地選址，或者在市區寸土必爭，仍然受制於各種阻力，至今停留在諮詢、研究階段？顯而易見，拓地建屋一籌莫展，不是得不到市民支持，而是港府無能而已。

較早前，港府高層透露，地政規劃部門在土地儲備、改變土地規劃及提高地積比率等方面，都未能配合現屆政府構思的「覓地、造地、落實建屋量」房屋新政，拓地外有反對聲音，內則受到部門牽制，陽奉陰違。現屆政府揚言施政重中之重是協助「基層上樓，中產置業」，可惜說時容易做時難，市民的忍耐是有限度的，民怨火山遲早爆發。

People may think that the small area and large population of Hong Kong are the reasons for its ever-increasing property price. In fact, only some 20% of the territory's land is developed. When it comes to implementing housing policy, the Government always asks the same question, “Where will the land come from?” But this is simply a false proposition as the so-called shortage of land is a result of the Government's poor land planning over the years. Moreover, with its weak governance, the Government always flinches in the face of difficulties and gives up halfway. All these serve to aggravate the housing problem.

A few days ago, the Chinese University unveiled a survey on people's opinion of land supply in Hong Kong. It revealed that over 70% of respondents were unhappy about Hong Kong's land-supply shortage, and over 80% of them supported the development of the North East New Territories. The Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying says he believes the poll's result is completely in line with the Government's vision. If that is the case, why is the Government still having its hands bound and bogged down in the consultation or research stage in so many of its land development proposals? They include the development plan of the North East New Territories, the selection of reclamation sites and the use of urban lands. Obviously, the hindrance on the progress in housing site identification is not due to the lack of people's support. It is only because the Government is incompetent.

Earlier on, senior government officials disclosed that the departments responsible for land and planning are not working in tune with the Government's new policy of creating more sites for housing, on the issues of land reserve, changing land use and raising plot ratio. Externally, there are voices objecting to certain land development plans; internally, government departments do not cooperate and just feign compliance. The present-term Government has stated that one of its most important tasks is to help the grassroots to be housed and the middle-class to buy their own homes. Unfortunately, it is always easier said than done. People have limited patience. Their grievances will erupt sooner or later.

重要生字

false proposition 偽命題

flinch in the face of difficulties 遇難而退

feign compliance 陽奉陰違

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