S for Housing begins Beijing visit (with photos)

     â€‹The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council (HKMAO) in Beijing today (May 31). She also visited various construction projects.

     Ms Ho paid a courtesy call on the Director of the HKMAO, Mr Xia Baolong, in the morning, and reported on the latest work and initiatives of housing in Hong Kong, including the implementation of public rental housing, subsidised housing and Light Public Housing. Mr Xia has a deep understanding of the situation in Hong Kong. He brought encouragement to the current-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government as it attaches great importance to the housing needs of Hong Kong people and has implemented numerous effective policy measures to address housing problems. He hoped the HKSAR Government will continue to strive to improve the living environment of people. Ms Ho stated that housing is of the greatest concern of the HKSAR Government. The Housing Bureau will continue to enhance its speed, quantity, efficiency and quality in increasing the public housing supply to improve the livelihood of people and build a housing ladder, so as to accomplish "actively responding to people's aspirations".

     On the same day, Ms Ho visited the construction project for the permanent venue of the Zhongguancun (ZGC) Forum to learn about the adoption of Building Information Modelling, robotic technology and smart construction sites. The ZGC Forum provided a national-level platform facilitating global exchanges and co-operation in technology and innovation. She later toured the Yizhuang Blue Collar Apartment Project to learn about the use of the Modular Integrated Construction method in building high-rise buildings expeditiously, which increases the quality of work and shortens the construction time. 

     Moreover, Ms Ho met with the Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Mr Ni Hong, yesterday (May 30) to introduce Hong Kong's Long Term Housing Strategy. They also exchanged views on various issues including the housing system, green buildings, and design and planning. 

     Ms Ho will continue her visit in Beijing tomorrow (June 1).