土地辯論現世代鴻溝 年輕一代失願景堪憂

<轉載自2018年5月7日 明報 社評>

土地大辯論開始不久，已清楚暴露世代鴻溝。土地供應專責小組關注未來30年土地供應，千方百計覓地，長遠目標也是希望下一代有較好的居住環境，並有較多機會「上車」，然而年輕人對於土地和房屋問題的想法，跟年長一輩的取態顯然並不一樣。以填海造地為例，年長人士大多表示支持，可是年輕人卻普遍反對，當中牽涉的不僅是意識形態差異，還折射了不少年輕人對制度的不信任，既對現狀感到無力，也對未來失去願景，情况堪憂。

維港以外填海造地 長者年輕人分歧大

本港土地供應短缺問題「水深火熱」，最受影響的一群，肯定不是一批早已「上岸」擁有物業的中年人和年長市民，而是渴望改善居住環境的基層人士，以及年輕新一代。「五十後」到「七十後」的市民，經歷了香港七八十年代的黃金歲月，目睹了一個又一個新市鎮發展，對於填海工程可謂習以為常；當年中小學的教課書，談到香港社會發展，也例必談到「移山填海」的積極作用。時移世易，現今社會的環保意識顯著提高，反對維港填海更是主流共識，然而在不少中年人和長者眼中，填海始終是一個值得考慮的選項。

可是以「九十後」和「千禧世代」為主的年輕一代，想法卻截然不同。土地小組成員落區聽取意見，發現最反對填海的就是年輕一代。團結香港基金委託中大做的電話抽樣民調，亦反映這一情况。調查發現45％受訪者贊成在維港以外填海興新市鎮，反對者佔34％，然而若以年齡組別區分，18至29歲年輕人反對填海比例高達46.7％，遠高於贊成的28.7％；60歲或以上長者的取態則截然相反，近57％支持填海，只有兩成反對。至於30至59歲的中年人，贊成（44％）與反對（37％）的比例，則貼近總體比例。

團結香港基金主張填海，難免有人質疑調查結果有否偏頗。誠然，研究員的立場，確有可能影響他們對數字作出客觀詮釋，惟只要問卷設計不存在嚴重引導傾向，調查結果仍然有參考價值。仔細剖析團結香港基金的問卷設計，說不上無可挑剔，部分問題字句鋪陳明顯可以改良，惟亦未至於帶有嚴重不合理的預設或誘導，沒有「填海對生態零影響」等不當暗示。雖然問卷沒有提及其他土地供應選項，不過提問方式也沒有暗示填海是興建新市鎮「唯一」或「最佳」選擇，正如環保團體反對郊野公園邊陲建屋，也可以在問卷只問市民對郊野公園取態，不提其他土地選項。

認定私樓公屋皆無緣 年輕一代迷惘變絕望

填海有利有弊，然而若要大幅增加土地供應，填海確是其中一個相對簡便的選擇。填海屬中長期選項，最快10多年後才有可能成事。長者支持填海，相信不是為了自己，而是為了下一代，偏偏年輕一代反對填海者眾。這一世代鴻溝的出現，有其社會深層原因，不應簡單視為年輕人「不領情」，又或純粹出於環保觀念有別。近年香港私樓樓價不斷飈升、公屋輪候時間愈來愈長、社會向上流動機會減少、民主發展停滯不前，很多年輕人不相信積極拼搏就能力爭上游，既買不起私樓，也輪不了公屋，充其量只能參與「申請居屋大抽獎」。他們對前途沒有把握，對社會失去願景，對政府也不再信任。就算年長一輩如何高談填海的好處，不少年輕人也無動於中，皆因他們都認定，就算政府大舉造地建屋，受惠者都不是普羅大眾。

年輕人對現狀的絕望，衍生了3種取態，一是走向激進左翼，抱着階級鬥爭心態，相信只有鬥倒人民共敵，「正義光明」才有可能；一是走向激進右翼，認為「淨化」香港是唯一出路；最後一種則可以用近期潮語「佛系」來概括，也就是什麼都不強求，一切隨緣「等運到」。3種心態走向極端，都不是健康現象，第一種容易淪為空想主義，務虛不務實；第二種有可能變成民粹排外，偏執狹隘；第三種則可能導致放棄主義，自暴自棄。

年輕人為眼前挫折所困，未必能看清土地短缺對未來人生的深遠影響，一旦日後他們想結婚組織家庭，希望擁有屬於自己的天地，始發現身陷絕境，未免為時已晚。政府有必要多了解年輕人的處境，認真處理他們的感受，多一些聆聽，少一些訓話。政府官員和有識之士應循循善誘，多向年輕人解釋土地供應問題的嚴峻程度，強調土地大辯論關乎下一代的未來，希望他們追求理想公義之餘，也多從務實角度，思考如何增加土地供應。

A chasm between generations exposed by the debate on land supply

NOT long after the "big debate" on land supply was kicked off, a chasm between generations has already been exposed. The Land Supply Task Force has left no stone unturned in exploring options for providing land in 30 years' time. The long-term purpose is to seek better living conditions for later generations and increase their chances of buying their first homes. However, young people apparently think very differently from the older generation in respect of land and housing. For example, while most older adults have expressed support for land reclamation, the young generation are generally opposed to it. This involves not only an ideological difference but also the young people's lack of confidence in the system. They feel helpless about the status quo and have no idea what the future will be like. The situation is worrying.

Who are most affected by the land supply crisis in Hong Kong? Certainly not the middle- or old-aged people who have long secured a safe retirement or bought their properties. The most affected ones are the grass roots who want to improve their living conditions and the younger generation. People born between 1950s and 1970s experienced Hong Kong's golden years in the 70s and 80s. Having witnessed the development of one new town after another, they are familiar with the idea of land reclamation. In fact, primary and secondary school textbooks in those years all talked about the positive functions of "removing mountains and filling the sea" in the development of Hong Kong society. Times have changed. Nowadays the public awareness of environmental protection is significantly greater. Opposing reclamation in Victoria Harbour has even become the mainstream consensus. However, in the eyes of many middle- and old-aged people, land reclamation remains an option worth consideration.

On the contrary, the younger generation consisting mainly of post-90s and post-00s think in an absolutely different way. Land Supply Task Force members who conducted personal visits to local communities to gauge public opinion have found that young people are the ones who oppose land reclamation most. A random telephone survey conducted by the Chinese University for Our Hong Kong Foundation has also shown similar results.

There are pro and cons of land reclamation. But if we need to increase land supply on a large scale, land reclamation is indeed one of the relatively simpler and easier options. Land reclamation is a medium-to-long term option that takes more than ten years to accomplish. Conceivably older people support land reclamation not for the sake of themselves but the next generation. However, this is exactly where they come into direct conflict with the younger generation. Such a chasm between generations has its roots in society. One should not take it simply as the "ingratitude" of the young or merely a manifestation of different views about environmental protection.

In recent years, the prices of private flats have skyrocketed continuously, the waiting time for public rental housing has become longer and longer, chances for upward mobility have been reduced, and democratic progress has remained stagnant. Many young people do not believe hard work will carry them upstream. Private flats are unaffordable. Public rental housing seems unwaitable. At best they can only enter the "big lottery" of applying for the Home Ownership Scheme flats. They feel uncertain about the future. They are disillusioned with society. And they are no longer confident in the government. However the older generation talk about the merits of land reclamation, the young people remain unconvinced. It is because they firmly believe that even if the government produces land on a large scale for housing, the ordinary people will not stand to benefit from that.

Government officials and learned individuals must guide the young generation with patience, explain more to them the severity of land shortage and stress that the debate on land supply is relevant to the future of later generations. It is hoped that they can, apart from pursuing ideals and justice, think more from a practical perspective about the ways to increase land supply.

土地辯論現世代鴻溝 年輕一代失願景堪憂

土地大辯論開始不久，已清楚暴露世代鴻溝。土地供應專責小組關注未來30年土地供應，千方百計覓地，長遠目標也是希望下一代有較好的居住環境，並有較多機會「上車」，然而年輕人對於土地和房屋問題的想法，跟年長一輩的取態顯然並不一樣。以填海造地為例，年長人士大多表示支持，可是年輕人卻普遍反對，當中牽涉的不僅是意識形態差異，還折射了不少年輕人對制度的不信任，既對現狀感到無力，也對未來失去願景，情况堪憂。

本港土地供應短缺問題「水深火熱」，最受影響的一群，肯定不是一批早已「上岸」擁有物業的中年人和年長市民，而是渴望改善居住環境的基層人士，以及年輕新一代。「五十後」到「七十後」的市民，經歷了香港七八十年代的黃金歲月，目睹了一個又一個新市鎮發展，對於填海工程可謂習以為常；當年中小學的教課書，談到香港社會發展，也例必談到「移山填海」的積極作用。時移世易，現今社會的環保意識顯著提高，反對維港填海更是主流共識，然而在不少中年人和長者眼中，填海始終是一個值得考慮的選項。

可是以「九十後」和「千禧世代」為主的年輕一代，想法卻截然不同。土地小組成員落區聽取意見，發現最反對填海的就是年輕一代。團結香港基金委託中大做的電話抽樣民調，亦反映這一情况。

填海有利有弊，然而若要大幅增加土地供應，填海確是其中一個相對簡便的選擇。填海屬中長期選項，最快10多年後才有可能成事。長者支持填海，相信不是為了自己，而是為了下一代，偏偏年輕一代反對填海者眾。這一世代鴻溝的出現，有其社會深層原因，不應簡單視為年輕人「不領情」，又或純粹出於環保觀念有別。

近年香港私樓樓價不斷飈升、公屋輪候時間愈來愈長、社會向上流動機會減少、民主發展停滯不前，很多年輕人不相信積極拼搏就能力爭上游，既買不起私樓，也輪不了公屋，充其量只能參與「申請居屋大抽獎」。他們對前途沒有把握，對社會失去願景，對政府也不再信任。就算年長一輩如何高談填海的好處，不少年輕人也無動於中，皆因他們都認定，就算政府大舉造地建屋，受惠者都不是普羅大眾。

政府官員和有識之士應循循善誘，多向年輕人解釋土地供應問題的嚴峻程度，強調土地大辯論關乎下一代的未來，希望他們追求理想公義之餘，也多從務實角度，思考如何增加土地供應。