Urgent call for more transitional housing units for substandard flat residents

Concern groups are urging authorities to reserve additional transitional housing units for tenants living in substandard cubicle flats. 

This plea comes as the Housing Bureau met with district representatives on Thursday to discuss a proposed regulatory regime for basic housing units.

During the meeting, the bureau announced plans to reserve 30,000 light public housing flats and 21,000 transitional housing units for eligible individuals in urgent need of accommodation. 

However, Lin Wai-hin of the Concerning Subdivided Units Alliance expressed dissatisfaction with the bureau's relocation arrangements, particularly for those needing to vacate homes that do not meet basic housing standards.

Lin said that the 51,000 units mentioned may not be sufficient to accommodate all affected subdivided flat tenants, as they are also reserved for other public housing applicants. 

Kenny Ng Kwan-lim, a member of the Kwai Chung Subdivided Flats Residents Alliance, said the importance of ensuring that affected tenants are properly relocated, suggesting that the government exempt these tenants from income and asset tests when applying for transitional housing.

A Housing Bureau spokesman reaffirmed that the new regulatory regime and enforcement operations will not displace residents of the affected subdivided flats. 

The bureau is also increasing the ratio of category B applicants -- those living in inadequate housing or in urgent need of community support -- from 20 percent to as high as 80 percent.

“The two short-term housing schemes can help address the urgent needs of various grassroots citizens, ensuring that affected subdivided flat tenants are not displaced,” the spokesman said. 

They also said that only 30 percent of subdivided flats in the city fail to meet basic housing unit requirements, with over 70,000 cubicle flats still available in the market.

(Eunice Lam)