Housing committee to intensify home demand probe

Sec Anthony Cheung said they will also review housing priorities.

According to a government release, the long-term housing strategy steering committee met for the first time today, to agree on the terms of reference and timetable for its work.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Secretary for Transport & Housing Prof Anthony Cheung said the committee will review the community's housing demands and priorities, particularly those of young people, the elderly, poorly-housed households and first-time home buyers, and recommend measures to address their housing needs.

Prof Cheung said it will also project the demand patterns and make forecasts for both public and private housing demands.

“The demand and supply are just two sides of the same coin,” he noted.

Prof Cheung said the committee will use 10 years as a starting point for mapping out a long-term housing strategy, adding that regular reviews will be conducted according to changes in social situation, demographic structure and the overall economic situation.

The steering committee will publish a consultation document by around the middle of next year and will have a three-month consultation period. It will also organise focus group discussions to collect views from the 15 non-government committee members who come from different sectors.

“Members are very active in exchanging their views and expressing their concerns today, so I am very hopeful that this committee will be able to accomplish its task, which is to produce a report for the Government’s consideration,” Prof Cheung said.

The committee will meet roughly once every six weeks.