Construction+ HK Issue 7 and 8
Construction+ HK Issue 7 and 8
Construction+ HK Issue 7 and 8
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EDITOR’S LETTER<br />
Dear readers,<br />
In this year-end bumper issue, we take a closer look at what has been happening in Hong Kong’s<br />
construction industry in 2017 <strong>and</strong> offer an outlook for 2018. The total number of construction<br />
commencements has maintained a positive growth trajectory, which is set to continue in the upcoming<br />
year.<br />
Phyllis Li, JP, Deputy Director of Planning/Territorial, Planning Department, <strong>HK</strong>SAR Government highlights<br />
in her foreword the completion of a six-month public engagement for Hong Kong 2030+ in April 2017,<br />
marking a key milestone in Hong Kong’s territorial development strategy <strong>and</strong> visionary approach to<br />
becoming a liveable, competitive <strong>and</strong> sustainable ‘Asia’s World City’.<br />
Housing development is a critical component of such a strategic plan. While Hong Kong continues to<br />
grapple with l<strong>and</strong> shortages, rising property prices <strong>and</strong> increasing housing dem<strong>and</strong>, the residential sector<br />
is still a major contributor to the construction industry <strong>and</strong> is projected to remain so in the coming years.<br />
As the society ages <strong>and</strong> the proportion of elderly-only households increases, there is an imminent dem<strong>and</strong><br />
for elderly-friendly housing. The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (<strong>HK</strong>IS) explores the opportunities <strong>and</strong><br />
challenges regarding ageing in place <strong>and</strong> the role for surveyors in elderly-friendly housing in their<br />
commentary. The Hong Kong Housing Society (<strong>HK</strong>HS) has been trying out pilot schemes with various<br />
models for the government, public <strong>and</strong> private developers. Currently, there are concerns that provisions<br />
for the elderly may affect property prices. Sr Edgar Li, <strong>HK</strong>IS’ Vice-Chairman of Guangzhou Forum,<br />
suggested for an Elderly Bureau to be set up to provide incentives, such as elderly housing concessions<br />
for public <strong>and</strong> private developers.<br />
We also feature a large number of residential projects in this issue, for example, Seven Victory Avenue,<br />
which is designed to provide an accessible <strong>and</strong> stylish private living space despite the compact size<br />
of each unit; <strong>and</strong> ALASSIO, which makes use of expansive glass windows to generate a sense of<br />
spaciousness <strong>and</strong> facilitate natural light.<br />
Happy reading!<br />
Clara Chiang<br />
Senior Editor<br />
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