My Blog

On this Christmas Day, I would like to start by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. When we talk about Christmas, we are all reminded of the themes of the season - love, joy and peace. For me, Christmas is also a reminder that we should face our work and life with this spirit in mind. Today, I would like to share with you that colleagues from the Development Bureau (DEVB) and its departments have been going out into the community in their spare time, bringing this love, joy and peace to the people they serve. While I thank them, I would also like to share with you stories of their volunteering work, hoping to spread this spirit to the community……

To meet society’s strong demand for housing and economic land, the Government is pressing ahead at full steam with large-scale developments in the New Territories, including the development of multi-storey buildings (MSBs) for modern industries. There are two major objectives of the MSB development: (1) to promote development of industries; and (2) to consolidate brownfield operations in a land-efficient manner. Today, I have invited the Under Secretary for Development, Mr LAM Chi-man, David, to briefly introduce the MSB development proposal and explain how this proposal could assist affected brownfield operators. Representatives from the consultancy firm which conducted a market sounding exercise for the MSB proposal and relevant trade associations will also give their views on the proposal……

The construction industry has always been an important driving force behind Hong Kong’s economic and social development. To attract more new entrants to join the industry, the Construction Industry Council (CIC), with the support of the Development Bureau (DEVB) and in partnership with more than 20 professional institutions, trade associations, workers’ unions and training institutions, has launched a large-scale campaign to promote the local construction industry. I was delighted to be part of the launch ceremony. To encourage more people to join our family, I have invited the Permanent Secretary for Development (Works), Mr LAU Chun-kit, Ricky, to share with us the multi-pronged measures the Government has adopted to enhance the overall productivity of the construction industry. A number of young people will also share with us their views on the prospects of the industry……

In recent years, the Government has been implementing the Pier Improvement Programme (PIP) to enhance the structural safety of public piers in remote areas of the New Territories and the outlying islands as well as to improve the ancillary facilities of the piers, with a view to fulfilling the basic needs of the local villagers who rely on ferries as their major transport mode and the operational needs of fishermen while enhancing the accessibility to scenic attractions. Among such piers, the enhanced Pak Kok Pier on Lamma Island will be open tomorrow (i.e. 14 November 2022). This time, I have invited colleagues from the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) to introduce the first improvement project completed under the PIP……

Solving the land and housing problem tops the agenda of the current-term Government. In his maiden Policy Address delivered last week, the Chief Executive adopts a multi-pronged land development strategy in four directions, namely “enhancing quantity, speed, efficiency and quality”, to compress land-production procedures, expedite land production and build up a land reserve in the long run, with a view to tackling housing issues, providing a quality living environment and creating strong impetus for growth for Hong Kong. The Development Bureau (DEVB) will implement the initiatives in full steam to build a more livable Hong Kong……

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and promote the New Territories Cycle Track Network (NTCTN), the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) has organised the “CT60+ Cycling Rewards” for the public. I am pleased to have taken part in the kick-off ceremony earlier, and to see that the existing cycle tracks and facilities serve as pleasant spots for the public to spend their leisure time……

The Government attaches great importance to site safety. We regularly review the safety management system of public works and adopt a multi-pronged approach by implementing measures on various fronts, including project design, tender evaluation, contract provisions, works supervision, technology application, regulation of contractors, as well as publicity and promotion, with a view to uplifting site safety performance……

Hong Kong is a highly urbanised and densely populated built-up city. We understand that the public hopes for quality and accessible public open spaces (POSs). In this connection, the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) under the Development Bureau has held a one-year project on the improvement of the local POS design with a view to explore the ways to design a creative and sustainable POS that satisfies the needs of the general public. This time, I have invited a colleague from the ArchSD to introduce the project details. Also, the design thinking advisor will share the results of the project……

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Drainage Services Department (DSD) has earlier held the San Tin Stormwater Pumping Station Open Day for the public to learn first-hand about its work on flood protection and the promotion of Hong Kong’s sustainable development. This time, I have invited colleagues from the DSD to introduce the Village Flood Protection Schemes, the San Tin Stormwater Pumping Station, as well as the Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) System and the Ecological Floating Island set up at the San Tin Stormwater Storage Pond, so that we can have a better understanding of the Department’s efforts in flood protection and combating climate change……

To prevent landlords of subdivided units (SDUs) from overcharging their tenants for water, the Waterworks Regulations (WWR) were amended last year. Apart from taking joint actions with other departments to find out whether tenants have been overcharged for water and to step up enforcement, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) has also implemented a pilot scheme for the installation of separate WSD water meters for SDUs to avoid disputes between tenants and landlords, and to prevent landlords from breaking the law inadvertently when recovering charges for water from tenants. This time, I have invited a WSD colleague to talk to us about the pilot scheme. An SDU landlord and a tenant will also share with us why they decided to join the scheme and tell us about the situation following the successful installation of separate water meters……

The Government has been striving to make Hong Kong a more liveable city. To enable members of the public to enjoy the harbourfront space freely in an inclusive environment, we will continue to take forward harbourfront development. One of our major development directions is to extend the open management model of “Harbourfront Shared Space” to more harbourfront sites……

The Development Bureau (DEVB) has been proactively promoting heritage conservation and has made some achievements. My colleagues and I submitted a regular report on the progress of the implementation of various heritage conservation initiatives to the Panel on Development of the Legislative Council on 12 July. Among such initiatives, The Pokfulam Farm, revitalised from the Old Dairy Farm Senior Staff Quarters (SSQ) with Grade 1 status under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (Revitalisation Scheme) launched by the DEVB, has come into trial operation after restoration. This time, I have invited the representatives of Caritas–Hong Kong and The Pokfulam Farm, who are responsible for taking forward this revitalisation project, to brief us on the farm’s new look after its revitalisation……

Increasing land and housing supply is a top priority for the current-term Government to better respond to public aspiration for a better living environment and meet the development needs of Hong Kong. On my first day upon taking office as the Secretary for Development (SDEV), I held a meeting with the heads of the departments under the Development Bureau (DEVB) to share my mission and vision. I hope to briefly introduce our future work directions through my first post in “My Blog”……