The groundbreaking ceremony for the first Light Public Housing (LPH) project was held this afternoon (February 19) at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, showcasing the determination and execution capability of the Government in addressing the housing problem.
 
     The Yau Pok Road project will provide about 2 100 LPH units, with intake expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025. The Housing Bureau (HB), the Architectural Services Department and the entire construction team are confident in meeting the target to complete the construction of about 30 000 LPH units by 2027-28 to improve the living conditions and quality of life at the soonest for those currently living in inadequate accommodation.
 
     Before the ceremony, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, accompanied by the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, visited a mock-up unit of the LPH. They also listened to a progress report by the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Michael Li, and Assistant General Manager of Chevalier (Construction) Company Limited Mr John Chow (the representative of the main contractor, Chevalier – China Railway Joint Venture). Through a video conference with a representative of the Mainland manufacturer producing the LPH prefabricated modules, Site Manager of China Railway Construction Group Company Limited Mr Wang Shihao, it was learned that the Modular Integrated Construction approach has become increasingly mature. The smarter manufacturing and installation of modules has led to a better performance in respect of speed, quality and safety, etc.
 
     Mr Wong said that the Chief Executive proposed the breakthrough LPH in his Policy Address, to make good use of government and private land, of which long-term development plan will not be implemented in the near future to fill the short-term gap of public housing supply. The HB will announce application arrangements for the first phase of LPH in the second quarter of this year. Mr Wong thanked the support by the Legislative Council, members of the local community and Sun Hung Kai Properties, which lent the site at Yau Pok Road for free, as well as the hard work of the construction team and government colleagues. He said that their joint efforts give hope to the public, especially to those families who are living in subdivided units and are waiting for public rental housing.
 
     Afterwards, Mr Wong; Ms Ho; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Permanent Secretary for Housing, Miss Rosanna Law; the Under Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai; Mr Li; Executive Director of Sun Hung Kai Properties Mr Adam Kwok; the Chairman and Managing Director of the Chevalier Group, Mr Kuok Hoi-sang; and the Chairman of the China Railway Construction Group Company Limited, Mr Mei Hongliang, officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony and expressed their wishes for a smooth start to the construction work.
 
     The first batch of LPH, providing a total of about 17 000 LPH units, comprises the four projects located at Yau Pok Road in Yuen Long, Tuen Mun Area 3A, Choi Hing Road in Ngau Tau Kok and Olympic Avenue in Kai Tak, with their construction work having already commenced at full speed. Apart from the Yau Pok Road project, the other three are expected to be completed in phases from the second quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026. A variety of community support offerings, including public transport facilities and routes (such as bus stop and minibus stop in the Yau Pok Road project), daily services (such as retail and social welfare) etc will be available in the projects for residents and the community at large. For grassroots citizens paying high rents for poor living conditions, LPH is definitely more affordable, safer, more comfortable, and is also a good option for a more dignified life.
 
     Preparatory work for the second batch of about 13 000 LPH units are moving ahead at full steam. The HB will seek funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council by the end of this month so that the units’ construction can begin as soon as possible.