PlanD celebrates 35th anniversary (with photos)
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The Planning Department (PlanD) held the 35th Anniversary (35A) Opening Ceremony today (February 12). The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; the Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands), Ms Doris Ho; and the Director of Planning, Mr Ivan Chung, officiated at the opening ceremony.
Officiating at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the PlanD strives to effectively utilise limited land resources to address social and livelihood needs, support and promote economic development, enable citizens to have a better place to live and work, and continuously improve the living environment through forward-looking planning and land allocation. After years of dedicated work by the PlanD and colleagues from various departments, the Government has assumed a leading role in land supply. Looking ahead, the Northern Metropolis is the new engine of Hong Kong’s economic development, an important area for implementing innovation and technology industrial development, deepening integration into development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and aligning with national development strategies, which involves innovative planning approaches, institutional innovation and reforms, and adaptive implementation strategies. Mr Chan said he hoped that PlanD colleagues will be bold in reforms, dare to break new ground, and innovate continuously, as well as embrace the new environment and new developments with an open mindset, charting a more ambitious development blueprint for Hong Kong.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Linn said that Hong Kong’s development has been continuously advancing and moving forward with enhancing speed, quantity, quality and efficiency, as Hong Kong needs sufficient land to embrace changes and strive for innovations, so as to promote economic and industry development. Land creation is no longer limited to housing development, but also plans for industry development, eco-tourism, and even improvement of people’s living environment. Throughout the process of land preparation and provision, the Government has been embracing innovation and changes with constant reforms to lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong’s future development. She encouraged PlanD colleagues to make continuous progress and continue to shine for a sustainable, livable and vibrant future for Hong Kong.
Addressing the ceremony, Mr Chung said that looking back over the past 35 years, in the face of changes in the macro-environment such as economic restructuring and demographic shifts, the PlanD has taken a prudent, robust and flexible approach to town planning work with a view to promoting optimal use of land resources and creating development space and capacity for Hong Kong. Looking ahead, the PlanD will work together with different sectors in the community to take forward and implement various planning projects, promote the optimal utilisation and balanced development of land resources for enhancing the well-being of the people of Hong Kong. At the same time, the Government will enhance interaction with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and sharpen Hong Kong’s competitive edge in the global arena. Together, the Government and the PlanD will plan for a future with boundless opportunities.
The PlanD will effectively utilise the City Gallery and outreach programme, including organising exhibitions in different districts and visiting schools, to strengthen its connection with the community. This initiative aims to enhance understanding of Hong Kong’s town planning among the public, particularly the younger generations, and to encourage citizens to participate in town planning matters.
For more information, please visit the PlanD 35A website (www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/about_us/35a/index.html), PlanD’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/plandgovhk) or its Instagram account (www.instagram.com/plandgovhk), or call 2231 5000.