The government will sell by tender six residential sites in the coming quarter to provide 1,250 flats. Secretary for Development Paul Chan said the sites are in Ma On Shan, Cheung Sha on Lantau Island, Tai Wai, Kwai Chung, Sham Shui Po and Tuen Mun.
     He said the MTR Corporation also plans to tender projects at Tin Shui Wai Light Rail Terminus and LOHAS Park, which can provide at least 4,600 flats, while the Urban Renewal Authority's Hai Tan Street-Kweilin Street & Pei Ho Street project can provide 850 flats.
     He said, together with 10,100 flats provided from various sources of land supply in the first half of this financial year, it is estimated that 16,800 private residential flats can be provided by the end of the third quarter, which represents 90% of the average annual target of 18,800 flats adopted from 2014-15.
     Mr Chan said the most effective way to increase land supply in the short-to-medium term is to make use of developed areas in urban areas and new towns, and land in the vicinity of existing infrastructure.
     The government has identified 150 potential housing sites in various districts requiring change in land use or increasing development intensity. These sites are capable of providing 210,000 flats in the next five years, with about 70% for public housing, he added.