5 Hong Kong schools proposed as sites under gov’t transitional housing scheme
Hong Kong Free Press
A plan to build apartments in five vacant school campuses and a newly identified site could provide more than 1,400 flats under the government’s Light Public Housing (LPH) scheme targeting those waiting in line for public rental units, the government has said.
In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Monday, the Housing Bureau proposed abandoning a housing project in Sheung Shui’s Lin Tong Mei village, as it considered building at the site to be less cost-effective. The site would require additional electricity and sewage treatment infrastructure, the bureau said.
Instead, the bureau said it hoped to convert five schools into temporary housing, which will provide 600 units at a relatively lower cost. The schools – which are in Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin and Sheung Shui – are empty, or will soon be vacant.
The temporary flats are part of the government’s LPH scheme. Announced by Chief Executive John Lee during his maiden Policy Address last year, the initiative aims to provide 30,000 flats that will be retired after five years of use in a bid to boost housing supply in the short term. The scheme targets those who are in line for public rental housing.
The first batch of the housing units, in Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Ngau Tau Kok, and Kai Tak, are scheduled for completion in the year 2024/25.
Along with the five schools, the bureau also said it has identified a government site at Hang Kwong Street in Ma On Shan suitable for the housing scheme that would be able to supply some 860 units.
Earlier, authorities said it would build flats at sites in Chai Wan, Tuen Mun and Siu Lam. Together, the projects make up the second phase of the housing project, which is expected to deliver some 13,000 of the total 30,000 temporary flats by 2027/2028. They would be spread out over nine sites, instead of the four announced last year.
Citing government sources, local media said 93 per cent of the flats under the LPH scheme’s second phase are in urban areas. There was criticism earlier that the sites for the housing units were in faraway areas with limited public transportation options.
Costs cut
According to the paper, funding for the second batch of short-term housing projects had been cut from HK$11.5 billion to around HK$9.8 billion – a 15 per cent drop.
The new adjustments would put the total estimated price tag for building the 30,000 temporary flats at HK$24.7 billion. That figure marked a 10 per cent decrease from the initial estimation of HK$27.4 billion, which drew criticisms regarding cost-effectiveness when it was announced a year ago.
The bureau said it would apply for funding from the legislature’s finance committee in the first quarter next year to cover design, construction, and other infrastructure works.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, housing minister Winnie Ho said authorities would still conduct long-term planning, and that sufficient land had been identified for 410,000 public rental flats for the coming 10-year period to meet the government’s goal of 308,000 units proposed in last year’s Policy Address.
Legislator Frankie Ngan told local media that the remodelling plan would allow subdivided flat residents to move into lodgings with basic facilities such as independent toilets while paying lower rent. Lawmaker Scott Leung, meanwhile, said the government should look into converting more vacant campuses and government properties into housing.
Development policy think-tank Liber Research Community, however, said three of the five school campuses were being zoned for housing development, rather than light public housing, raising the question of why those sites were not used for permanent public rental housing instead.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.