Race on for light housing units

Ayra Wang

Applications opened yesterday for around 4,400 light public housing units in Yuen Long and Ngau Tau Kok, with some subdivided flat tenants visiting the Housing Authority's office in Lok Fu to submit applications.

One applicant, 70-year-old Lam, has been suffering from severe asthma for a long time and has been waiting for a flat for five years.

He currently lives in a subdivided flat in To Kwa Wan with his wife, and says the poor living environment and lack of air circulation have impacted on his health, leading to repeated hospitalizations and leaving them "desperate" to move into public housing flats.

Another applicant, Ng, urgently needs to move as the lease on her subdivided flat is about to expire and the owner has asked her to move.

Ng plans to apply for a flat in Yuen Long due to the cheaper rent, though she is "a bit worried about the inconvenient commutes involved."

A third, Yeung, said she has no preference in terms of location, just a desire to move in as soon as possible, while a fourth, Chiu, said she would apply for a flat in Ngau Tau Kok as it is closer to her daughter's school.

The first batch of light public housing flats, located in Yuen Long and Ngau Tau Kok, will have monthly rents ranging from HK$740 to HK$2,650. They will be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2025. Applicants who have been on the public housing waiting list for over three years are eligible, with priority given to family applications.

People can submit application forms in person to the Housing Authority's Lok Fu office and the dedicated office for light public housing at Revenue Tower in Wan Chai, or they can submit applications by mail, or via the mobile app iAmSmart+.