Hong Kong housing authorities have revealed that a now-suspended plan to build 8,300 public flats in a northern town will face higher costs of up to 90 per cent for each home and require an extra 10 months to complete if it goes ahead.
The Housing Bureau said on Monday that the postponement was prompted by its investigation that found the site had “complex geology with a deep bedrock layer”.
“The authority stresses that it has not abandoned the project,” the bureau said.
It added that geological issues were expected to bring a longer-than-normal construction period and significant costs for foundation works.
The bedrock level had been found at depths exceeding 80 metres (262 feet) below ground in general, with the deepest recorded at 120 metres.
Deep foundation work would be involved if the site were to be used to build public housing, the bureau said.
