The establishment of the Housing Bureau as part of a major reshuffle of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s government structure demonstrates Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his administration’s commitment to addressing Hong Kong’s pressing housing problems. Over the past year, the government has demonstrated a resolute determination to tackle the housing shortage problem, yielding satisfactory results.
Lee made housing issues a focal point of his election manifesto and maiden Policy Address, highlighting the severity of Hong Kong’s housing shortage that is characterized by exorbitant rents, limited living space, and formidable obstacles to home ownership. In response to these challenges, the current government outlined the core principles of its housing policies in its first Policy Address, with an emphasis on “increasing supply, expediting construction, enhancing efficiency, and improving quality”. Several new housing initiatives were introduced, meriting public support. Over the past year, government departments have demonstrated their commitment to tackling the housing problems by proactively coming up with different initiatives.
Notably, the Light Public Housing program deserves mention as a major housing policy in the short term. The detailed plan for the program has been approved by the Legislative Council’s Public Works Subcommittee and Finance Committee and the bidding process is expected to commence early next year, with the first projects scheduled for launch in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The progress the current administration has achieved is testament to its determination to meet the housing needs of grassroots residents.
The current administration’s maiden Policy Address placed housing issues at its core, outlining four key “enhancements”: increasing supply, expediting construction, enhancing efficiency, and improving quality. Although the full impact of the government’s housing policies is yet to be seen, its commitment to tackle the housing problem is laudable. However, a drawback is the government’s failure to provide details of planned housing projects in public announcements. For instance, details regarding the proposed 12,000 public housing units to be built in a small part of Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling have not been disclosed. The public looks forward to the government providing more detailed information on planned housing projects in the upcoming Policy Address.
Moreover, the issue of substandard living conditions, including subdivided units, deserves more attention. While the government has taken an initial step — introducing a regime to regulate subdivided unit tenancy, further measures are required to improve the living conditions and facilities. The government has forecast a significant increase in public housing supply in the next five years, presenting an opportune time to establish a timetable and roadmap for eradicating substandard housing and ensuring a basic standard of living for all residents.
Presently, nearly 130,000 households endure substandard living conditions, particularly in subdivided units. Addressing the housing issues faced by grassroots residents necessitates not only increased supply and expedited delivery of public housing but also measures to eliminate substandard housing and enhance living conditions and facilities. While the government has taken initial steps to tackle substandard housing, the persistence and exacerbation of these problems call for further action. The government’s emphasis on significantly increasing public housing supply starting from the 2027-28 fiscal year provides an opportune moment to establish a timetable and roadmap for eradicating substandard housing and ensuring residents can enjoy a basic standard of living. In addition, the Private Subsidised Sale Flat — Pilot Scheme announced by the government, which promotes collaboration between the public and private sectors, will produce subsidized sale flats with unique features, offering an alternative choice of more affordable housing.
The chief executive and his administration have exhibited a proactive stance in housing policies, implemented a major government restructuring, and introduced a range of new initiatives on housing. While the effectiveness of these measures is yet to be fully observed, the government’s determination is commendable. However, there is room for improvement in terms of providing details on proposed housing projects and measures addressing the pressing issues at hand. The housing problem in Hong Kong is both urgent and complex, necessitating continuous efforts from the government to accelerate improvements in housing conditions for grassroots residents and ensure they can enjoy a decent living environment.
The author is a member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
