What you need to know about Hong Kong's 10-year housing goals proposals

Consulation period set until December.

According to a release, the Long Term Housing Strategy Steering Committee launched a consultation document today to collect public views on housing strategy for the next 10 years.

Introducing the document’s proposals at a press conference, Secretary for Transport & Housing and committee chairman Prof Anthony Cheung said Hong Kong faces an acute housing problem, with housing conditions that do not match Hong Kong’s economic affluence.

“Our goal is to provide adequate and affordable housing for each and every Hong Kong family,” Prof Cheung said.

The document's theme is “Building Consensus, Building Homes”.
For allocating public rental housing, priority should be given to low-income families and seniors.

The document proposes helping the grassroots through public rental housing, helping younger and lower-middle income groups purchase homes by providing Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) and other subsidised flats, and stabilising the private housing market with priority given to meeting Hong Kong residents’ needs.

It suggests the Government adopt a more proactive role and a “supply-led” strategy, with a total housing supply target of 470,000 units for the next 10 years.

It also says the new housing ratio should be 60% public and 40% private, with sufficient flexibility for subsidised sale flats, including Home Ownership Scheme (HOS). The supply of HOS flats should be raised above the number the Government has already pledged.

For subdivided units, the committee urges the Government to intensify inspection, to step up enforcement action to eradicate units in industrial buildings, and suggests a licensing or landlord registration system to regulate safety and hygiene.

“Our housing problems are pressing and demand immediate action. We cannot afford to delay. We need to forge a community consensus, and to have the determination to overcome various constraints and hurdles, and set appropriate priorities,” Prof Cheung said.

As affordable housing can only be provided with a steady and sufficient land supply, the committee urges the Government to continue streamlining planning and administration procedures, to release and make best use of land resources.

“We must work hard to build a better future for those living in inadequate housing, and for our younger generations.”

The consultation period will last for three months, until December 2.