Growth opportunity: Secretary for Development Carrie Lam says the Government will form a Development Opportunities Office to facilitate private development projects.

Secretary for Development Carrie Lam says the proposed establishment of a Development Opportunities Office will provide one-stop consultation and co-ordination services to facilitate private development projects.

Meeting the media after the Land & Building Advisory Committee meeting today, Mrs Lam said the proposal is welcomed by the group which will be reorganised and renamed after its term ends this month.

"Amid the impact of financial turmoil on Hong Kong we should not only promote Government infrastructure projects, but also private ones to create more jobs and enhance the city's edge," Mrs Lam said.

"The office will complement the work of the new committee to study together which projects will benefit Hong Kong."

The committee will continue reviewing demand and use of public and private land, but its representation will be expanded and may include representatives from the tourism and environmental protection sectors.

The committee suggests it be renamed the Land & Development Advisory Committee to reflect its new role. It also proposes some prerequisites for the consideration of private projects. For example the project proponent should be a landowner and the proposal should not be a pure real estate project, but benefit other economic activities, too.

The Government will consult the Legislative Council Development Panel on establishing the new office by the end of the month before seeking approval of the Establishment Subcommittee in April or May. It will form the office in mid-2009.