Only by reclaiming the golf course and building housing can the value of the Li Jiachao government be reflected.

The dispute over whether or not to stay at the Fanling Golf Course has heated up again. It is said that some people hope to overturn the previous decision through the change of government.

In an interview on Sunday (7th), Ye Liu Shuyi, the convener of the Executive Council, said that the government did not need to take back the land, and hoped that the current government would consider it carefully.

Lam Chiu-ying, chairman of the Countryside Fund and former director of the Observatory, suggested reopening the golf course as Central Park.

These propositions are not without merit. For example, Ye Liu's idea can promote golf and preserve the ecological and historical deeds of the area.

As for the opening of the golf course as Central Park, the residents of the North District and the whole of Hong Kong can enjoy more places to enjoy leisure, breaking the current restriction that it is only open to upper-class members most of the time.

However, the recovery of 32 hectares of golf course land and the use of 9 hectares to build public housing can meet the living needs of a large number of citizens.

When several opinions on golf course land are clashing again in society, Hong Kong rulers must start from their governance philosophy and values ​​in order to clear the fog.

The Fanling Golf Course has three golf courses with clubhouses and other facilities, and has hosted open competitions in the past.

(File photo / Photo by Lu Yiming)

Building a home is better than retaining a ballpark or Central Park

Conservation and recreation are important, but the issue of living in Hong Kong is even more urgent.

Hundreds of thousands of citizens are living in unsuitable houses, and the living difficulties directly impair the quality of life of citizens and the well-being of the next generation.

For politicians to achieve housing fairness and justice, they must give everyone the basic right to adequate housing and ensure that housing expenses are affordable.

The policy to embody this value is to build public housing and resettle people who have difficulty living.

The Development Bureau responded that the nine hectares of land will be of great help to the supply of public housing in the next ten years. Housing Secretary Ho Wing-yin also believes that if the stadium land is not recovered, it will be difficult for the housing supply to meet the standard.

According to the government's current plan, 12,000 public housing units are equivalent to 4% of the over 300,000 housing units in the next ten years, which is not a small amount in proportion.

Of course, the government can find another land, but the land has been cleared, which will help the government to "speed up" the construction of houses.

On the contrary, Hong Kong has no shortage of golf courses.

In addition to the main part of the Fanling Golf Course reserved by the government, there are also large and small venues in Kau Sai Chau and other areas.

In the future northern metropolitan area, the government has also reserved many conservation facilities and areas.

Therefore, on balance, it is in the best interest of the society as a whole that the Government continue to promote the construction of these nine hectares.

The 172-hectare Fanling Golf Course is one of the focus options in the "land debate".

(file picture)

Ye Liu Shuyi has always opposed the construction of golf courses. Other members of the DAB Legislative Council, such as Liu Guoxun, who is also a member of the Northern District Council, also had reservations about the government's plan. She suggested that the government should study the golf course together with the northern metropolitan area.

However, the land reclamation plan is not only a social consensus, but also meets the needs of the society. To insist that it is a populist voice is to steal the concept.

The previous government's task force on land supply has set key criteria when it released its report in 2019, that is, no housing options should be taken lightly, but at the same time, short-, medium- and long-term goals should be distinguished. After collecting public opinions, the group proposed partial development plans instead of repossession. , it is to take into account the needs of housing construction and sports development, as well as reduce the impact on ecological and conservation functions.

Taking back the golf course is consensus politicians are responsible

The proposal to reclaim the land had a social consensus. At that time, the Executive Council suggested that the Chief Executive should direct the acceptance of the group's proposal, and the Government also expressed its full agreement.

Over the past few years, the housing shortage is still severe. The Development Bureau emphasized that the nine hectares of land will be of great help to the supply of public housing in the next ten years. The party supporting the retention of the golf course could not submit an overriding reason enough to overturn the justification at that time.

Not to mention that Ye Liu Shuyi was already a member of the guild at that time, she should support the land resumption plan proposed by the guild and accepted by the government. Now, in order to make the citizens live and work in peace and contentment and realize the four-point hope of President Xi Jinping, she should also help the government to achieve the house building plan. Instead of holding back the Housing Bureau to meet the housing construction volume.

The development of new districts is bound to encounter various specific problems. In the past and now, many housing estates started from nothing. It is up to the government and local people to overcome them. The development of Fanling Golf Course should not be an exception.

If the demand for expanding roads, water conservancy and other facilities is really too great, the government can also consider reducing the number of units, reducing the pressure on the community, and reconciling the dissatisfaction of the community. Rules of conduct.

Fanling Golf Course rumors that the government should be prepared to avoid passive development of country parks is not a panacea