Development Secretary Paul Chan would like to assuage the public’s fears and assure them that no, the government will not be building residential or commercial sites inside our precious country parks. Well, at least for the next two years. Hurrah!
According to RTHK, some legislators have suggested that we help to solve the housing problem by building flats inside protected country parks (which makes us wonder what country parks are for, anyway). Of course, the residential developments would need well-established transport links as well.
But the development secretary said that the government will focus on other projects… for now.
Don’t give Chan the Captain Planet award just yet, however, as he himself has suggested building flats inside country parks on his personal blog.
“These country parks and conservation areas cover most of the land in Lantau, are they entirely not suitable for development?” he wrote.
“While in the past, it was considered taboo to discuss development in country parks, is this still a subject that cannot be discussed today? There are views that this can be discussed and explored.”
Let’s all say a silent prayer for the future of our city’s greenery.
Photo: Justin Gaurav Murgai via Flickr
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