Govt refutes foreign media over misrepresentations regarding subdivided housing

The Housing Bureau on Monday clarified the varying quality of subdivided flats and announced significant plans to boost public housing and address the city's housing challenges.

Their comments came after the Australian Broadcasting Company and The Guardian recently highlighted issues surrounding Hong Kong's housing situation, specifically pointing out the 110,000 subdivided flats on the market and inaccurately categorizing them as "low-quality."

In response, the bureau emphasized that the quality of these subdivided flats varies significantly. Some are of good quality and meet the needs of working-class individuals, small families, and students who prioritize convenience for work and school. However, they acknowledged that there are also smaller units of poorer quality.

Authorities also noted that economically developed cities worldwide face similar challenges in accommodating diverse living needs through various types of housing units.

To address these issues, the government has outlined a robust plan to increase the supply of public housing significantly. Over the next five years, they aim to provide 189,000 units, marking an 80 percent increase from the previous five years. This plan includes the addition of 30,000 basic Light Public Housing units and 21,000 transitional housing units to alleviate the short-term supply shortage.

This increase in housing supply is intended to enable qualified residents to move out of inadequate subdivided units more swiftly, thereby helping to gradually resolve the ongoing issues associated with such accommodations.

Furthermore, the government has identified approximately 33,000 subdivided units of poor quality that require extensive renovations to meet the basic standards for housing. The remaining 77,000 units need only minor improvements. Long-term projections suggest that over 70 percent of the subdivided units could still function as basic housing options in the market.

Additionally, the government highlighted the regulatory measures in place since 1994 under the Bedspace Apartments Ordinance, which oversees the standards for caged homes, coffin homes, and other similar accommodations. The Office of the Licensing Authority under the Home Affairs Department will continue to enforce these regulations and enhance public awareness about bedspace apartments.