■發展商捐出農地作社會房屋之用，有助打破土地困局。 資料圖片【原文】新世界發展宣佈，將會捐出總共300萬方呎農地作社會房屋之用，以協助紓緩香港房屋居住問題。土地房屋問題長期沒能有效解決，影響香港社會穩定和諧，社會各界都必須正視問題，下決心解決這個困擾香港的深層次矛盾。有能力的發展商作出更大承擔，努力回饋社會，有助推動社會各界群策群力，攜手破解土地房屋難題，值得肯定。政府應鼓勵並且全力協助落實有關捐地計劃，讓捐出的土地早日惠及基層市民。
土地房屋問題阻礙本港經濟發展、改善民生，已經成為滋生民怨、影響社會穩定的重大隱患。土地資源是本港最寶貴的資源，有效增加土地供應是解決房屋難題的關鍵。地產發展商作為房地產業及本港社會的重要持份者，與700萬市民同坐一條船，榮辱與共，面對土地房屋問題嚴重影響社會和諧安寧，發展寸步難行，當然不能再無動於衷、袖手旁觀。
此次發展商新世界集團作出捐地建屋利民的安排，首階段將利用天水圍的3幅農地，與社企合作興建全港首個大型「創意社會房屋」，主要幫助有小朋友的低收入家庭，對紓緩中下階層的居住問題具有針對性，做法值得充分肯定。過往恒基等發展商亦曾捐出農地興建青年宿舍、安老院舍，受到社會歡迎，希望發展商慷慨捐地建屋陸續有來。由發展商帶頭協助、支持解決土地短缺問題，相信效果會事半功倍。
增加土地房屋供應，備受各界關注。昨日團結香港基金提出多項建議，包括提倡「港人組屋」計劃，重推租置計劃、提供租津及為首次置業年輕人提供免息貸款等措施。
土地房屋問題困擾多時，解決不可能一蹴而就，任何政黨、人士都應理性討論，提出切實可行的建議；任何具建設性的意見，政府都應認真聆聽，積極研究，創新機制，推動落實，為打破困局創造有利條件。正如此次捐地的新世界發展負責人表示，企業都有自己的社會責任，新世界只是邁出第一步，以創新思維來為解決香港土地問題找出路。
發展商和社會各界正在為增加土地房屋供應而努力，同時亦有立法會議員稱，不反對地產商做善事，惟認為新世界應盡快交代捐地的實際位置，並檢視周邊有否屬於他們的土地，質疑捐地是否真正為社會利益，抑或是「假捐地、真獲利」；有組織亦重彈「官商勾結、利益輸送」的舊調。新世界發展已表明，昨日宣佈捐出的三幅地皮附近並無集團其他相連地皮，不會發生「利益輸送」的情況。香港社會如果至今還不拋開成見，不理性看待社會各界為打破土地困局所作的努力，只會令土地房屋問題積重難返。 （摘錄自香港《文匯報》社評26-9-2019）
Time to work together ── developer deserves praise for land donation
【譯文】New World Development announced that it will donate a total of 3 million square feet of its farmland reserves for social housing to help alleviate housing problems in Hong Kong. As land and housing are long-standing issues that have been upsetting social harmony and stability, all sectors of the society must face up to the problem and be determined to resolve this deep-rooted conflict that plagues Hong Kong. It is worthy of recognition that a capable developer makes greater commitments to giving back to society, as it could drive the community to work together in solving land and housing issues. The government should encourage and assist fully the implementation of the land donation project, so as to benefit the grassroots as soon as possible.
Land and housing issues have become a considerable threat to social stability, giving rise to public grievances as they hinder Hong Kong's economic development and citizens' livelihood improvement. Land is the most valuable resource in Hong Kong. Effectively increasing land supply is the key to solving housing problems. As an important stakeholder in both the real estate sector and the society, property developers are in the same boat with all seven million people of Hong Kong. When the problem of land and housing is breeding serious disruption to law and order of the society and hindering the pace of development in Hong Kong, property developers cannot turn a blind eye to it and stand on the sidelines.
In its land donation scheme, New World Development will first offer three plots of agricultural land in Tin Shui Wai to a non-governmental organisation to build housing projects, mainly to help low-income families with children. This targeted approach to alleviating housing problems among middle and lower classes fully deserves credit. In the past, developers like Henderson Land Development have also donated farmland for the building of youth hostels and elder homes. Their actions were also well received by the society. It is hoped that their generosity will be continued. With property developers pioneering the fight against land shortage, twice the result could be yielded with half the effort.
Increasing land supply has been a top priority of Hong Kong. Yesterday, the Our Hong Kong Foundation has put forth a range of housing proposals, including "HDB flats for Hongkongers". This proposal calls for the reintroduction of the Tenants Purchase Scheme, the provision of rent subsidy and the provision of interest-free loans to young first-time buyers.
As the problem of land and housing has plagued Hong Kong for an extensive period of time, solution to the problem cannot be achieved overnight. Individuals and political parties alike should put forward practical suggestions and remain rational in any relevant discussions. Meanwhile, the government should listen, study, and respond to any constructive opinions in order to achieve a breakthrough. Just as the New World Development spokesperson said, companies have a social responsibility. New World Development is merely taking the first of many steps in finding Hong Kong a way out of the current land and housing deadlock.
As developers and other sectors are scrambling to increase land and housing supply, organisations have expressed concerns of business-government collusion and transfer of benefits. Some legislators also remained sceptical, apparently questioning whether the developer would obtain benefits from this donation. They said they do not object to developers repaying the society, but have nonetheless urged New World Development to disclose the exact locations of the three plots of land which are to be donated, and whether they own any land that is in close proximity.
New World Development made a statement shortly after, saying that they do not own any land that is immediately connected to the three plots of land to be donated, thus clearing any doubts of "transfer of benefits". If the society still does not set aside differences and continue to look at land and housing efforts irrationally, the dire situation that Hong Kong is now facing will become even more difficult to rectify.■Jeffrey Tse
Q&A
1. 企業社會責任
2. 非牟利機構
3. 非政府組織
4. 既得利益
5. 囤地
Answer
1. corporate social responsibility
2. non-profit organisation (NPO)
3. non-governmental organisation (NGO)
4. vested interests
5. land hoarding