Hong kong criticises empty schools as land shortage spirals

As the global population continues to boom, housing industries are racing to catch up with demand for accommodation. While a shortage in labour is holding back the UK's attempts to speed up construction, the major headwind facing Hong Kong is a lack of land.

However, a new report criticises the country for allowing hectares of unused land to build up in the form of more than 100 empty schools.

The study, by the Director of Audit, reveals that nearly half of the 200 school premises vacated in recent years are empty and, worse, have no place for redevelopment. Around 80 per cent of the 234 vacant schools are primary schools, with 14 of them not even registered in the system, with the research recommending a review of the process used to track and review abandoned premises, to make sure the vacant ones are used as soon as possible, whether that is for housing or for other purposes. 

Democratic Party chief executive Lam Cheuk-ting told the South China Morning Post that the situation is "a waste of precious public resources".

"This is an obvious serious breach of duty on the government's part. They always say Hong Kong has a shortage of land … yet what they are doing is wasting previous public resources," he said.