Housing chief promotes affordable housing options to subdivided flat residents in Sham Shui Po

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin visited a community center in Sham Shui Po on Saturday alongside lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun and local district councillors to brief residents of subdivided flats on the upcoming Basic Housing Units Bill.

The delegation explained the proposed regulatory framework, implementation timeline, and tenant rights under the new scheme, emphasizing that landlords cannot use the policy as an excuse to terminate leases prematurely.

Officials also encouraged residents to apply for the government's Light Public Housing and transitional housing programs to improve living conditions. Ho told attendees at the Lok Sin Tong-operated community hub that by moving to these subsidized units, families could save on rent and build household savings while accessing better community support.

During the session, residents shared personal struggles. One woman who recently underwent knee surgery explained that it took her 30 minutes to navigate staircases but she needed to remain in urban areas for family care. In response, Ho highlighted downtown Light Public Housing and transitional housing options for her consideration.

Addressing concerns about relocation costs, Ho announced that eligible movers would receive one-off subsidies—HK$4,500 for urban units or HK$9,050 for New Territories sites for a family of four. She explained that this financial support was designed to ease the transition process.