Academics and a senior government official debated the long-term housing policy and related economic and social issues at a public forum on Hong Kong’s long-term housing strategy at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) on 16 November.

The forum was jointly organised by the Governance in Asia Research Centre at CityU and the Centre for Governance and Citizenship at the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd).

Keynote speakers at sessions on “Ethical Dilemmas over Policy Choices” and “Housing Affordability and Social Poverty” included experts from CityU’s Department of Public Policy, HKIEd’s Centre for Governance and Citizenship, HKIEd’s Department of Asian and Policy Studies, and the Shadow Long Term Housing Strategy Steering Committee.

Professor Kerry Kennedy, Director of HKIEd’s Centre for Governance and Citizenship, Professor Linda Li Che-lan, Acting Director of CityU’s Governance in Asia Research Centre, and Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, HKSAR Government’s Secretary for Transport and Housing, delivered welcoming addresses. Professor Way Kuo, CityU President, attended the event and exchanged ideas with the speakers.

In the third session of the forum, Professor Cheung responded to housing questions raised by the speakers and audience. “Housing policy, instead of being emotionally driven, should be developed rationally based on comprehensive and multi-faceted evaluation,” he said.

The event drew close to a 100 people, including media representatives.