Members of the Land and Building Advisory Committee (LBAC) welcomed the establishment of the Development Opportunities Office (DOO) and supported the reorganization of the LBAC.
The LBAC was briefed on the proposed establishment of the DOO to facilitate development proposals from non-Government entities, and the reorganization of the LBAC to provide for public involvement in the consideration of such development proposals. Members welcomed the DOO initiative and were of the view that an office providing "one-stop" advisory service and support to project proponents would facilitate development projects which were of wider economic benefits and of value to enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness. Members noted that the DOO would not replace the existing statutory procedures, public consultation, regulation, and that land premium would be charged in accordance with established government policies. They also noted that the DOO would provide secretariat support to the reorganized LBAC.
Members supported the reorganization of the LBAC to perform a new role of giving advice on development projects as presented by the DOO. They shared the view that to perform this new role effectively, the membership of the LBAC should be strengthened to include members from a wider spectrum of the community so that the reorganized LBAC would be informed about sentiments in the broader community on a certain development proposal and could advise on its relative merits accordingly.
In the 2009-10 Budget Speech, the Financial Secretary announced that the DOO would be set up under the Development Bureau to better co-ordinate development projects from non-Government entities involving policies handled by different government bureaux and departments, and the LBAC would be re-organised by appointing new members from the community, together with representatives of various trade bodies, to contribute their ideas to the work of the DOO.
Ends/Thursday, March 12, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:55
NNNN