Sin homes in on lamma 'super jail'

Businessman Checkley Sin Kwok-lam will study the possibility of building a "super jail" on Lamma to centralize prisons and correctional facilities as part of his aim to free up urban land plots once he is elected chief executive.

Sin, who is also a filmmaker and kung fu master, added that he hopes to finish legislation work to enact Basic Law article 23 within a year of becoming chief executive.

Sin, who declared his intention to compete for the top job on Wednesday, is currently the first and only contender in the chief executive election scheduled for March 27.

In his manifesto, Sin said he will "study possibilities to build a super prison on Lamma, and centralize all prisons and correctional facilities there." He added that "this would allow a more effective use of resources, while also freeing up hundreds of hectares of urban land plots that could be used for development."

Sin also suggested the government relocate most of the cemeteries and crematoria currently located in urban areas and New Territories to the islands, including Kau Sai Chau off the coast of Sai Kung, as they are occupying "precious land plots."

Further, Sin said he would relocate the Kwai Chung Container Terminal to the southwestern area of Tsing Yi, along with the training centers for the disciplined forces as there is much land suitable for development there.

Sin also has a plan in mind for housing, noting that he hopes to cut down the waiting time for public rental housing from the current six years to under three years.

He will also tackle subdivided flats, cage homes and vagrancy within the first five years of taking office.

In order to do so, he said the city has to solve the problem of land supply and cut "red tape," including amending the Protection of the Harbor Ordinance, which currently aims to limit reclamation in Victoria Harbour.

He also said the government has to streamline procedures to develop land plots, which currently takes between three and 10 years. Sin added that authorities should also begin cooperating with developers and villagers to develop sites in the New Territories.

Sin noted that he will enact Basic Law article 23 - which prohibits acts such as treason, secession, sedition, subversion and foreign collusion - after becoming chief executive.

He also plans to amend the Trade Unions Ordinance and Societies Ordinance to prevent people from taking part in activities unrelated to employees' welfare under the guise of trade unions.

Sin added that he will look into the possibilities of legislating against misinformation and "fake news" given that it does not breach the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

As for anti-epidemic measures, Sin will take reference from the mainland's methods of combating Covid-19 and invite their experts to assist Hong Kong in fighting the outbreaks.