Clarify housing priorities
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-15 09:17 On the one hand, the government has regarded the booming property sector as a
pillar industry that should be properly tapped to sustain the country's economic
growth.
On the other hand, the government also keenly realizes its obligation to
address the public's basic housing needs.
Stopping short of direct price controls, construction authorities have
refrained from stepping too far into a sector where market rules should be
allowed to and will prevail.
The floor space limit might serve as a stopgap measure to increase supply of
low-cost homes. But in the long run, it is definitely up to businesses and
consumers to decide what kind of homes they will build and what they want to
buy. As a market watchdog, the government should focus on guarding against any
illegal or unfair commercial practices.
As for providing affordable housing for low-income earners, policy-makers at
all levels should redouble their efforts and input of public funds for this
purpose. A cap on floor space will not make commercial houses an alternative to
cheap social housing the government is supposed to offer low-income families.
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