HK Policy Address 2024: Owners of substandard subdivided housing units may face prison after grace period
Hong Kong Free Press
Owners of substandard subdivided units may face imprisonment following the end of a 1-2 month grace period, the Hong Kong government has said. It comes after authorities introduced a new policy to eradicate the city’s low-quality cubicle homes in the 2024 Policy Address.
All owners of subdivided units have been called upon to register with the government, the city’s housing chief Winnie Ho said on Thursday at a press conference, adding that the registration period will last 12-18 months.
The property owners will then enjoy a grace period to renovate the cubicles before the Housing Authority takes up enforcement of eradication, Ho said.
Meanwhile, the government will certify subdivided units that are brought up to standard as “Basic Housing Units.” However, “coffin homes” – tiny spaces measuring little larger than a single bed, also known as “cage homes” – will not fall under the remit of the new legislation. Instead, they will continue to be regulated by the Bedspaces Apartments Ordinance.
“Regarding how long these two [grace] periods should last, we hope to listen to opinions from the public, ” Ho said in Cantonese. “But the grace period should not be too short as it takes time for the landlords to reconstruct the units.”
Michael Wong, deputy financial secretary, said that – after end of the grace period – the owners may face penalties, including imprisonment.
Hong Kong has seen a growing number of inadequate housing including sub-divided units, “coffin” homes and rooftop homes. According to government statistics, in 2021, there were 108,200 sub-divided units, accommodating 215,700 people.
Chief Executive John Lee announced in its third Policy Address to introduce a bill to phase out subdivided units smaller than eight square metres (86 sq ft) or these without a proper window or a toilet. But “coffin” homes will stay.
On Thursday, Wong said the authorities will begin enforcement against the substandard subdivided units “gradually” and “step by step.”
“The enforcement should not be rushed, otherwise it will trigger panic among tenants and drive some people to the streets,” Wong said in Cantonese.
‘Bumper crop for public rental units’
When asked by reporters how to resettle those living in substandard subdivided units, Wong said 60 per cent of such tenants are waiting for public rental units or are eligible to apply.
“According to our statistics, 40 per cent of these tenants are queueing for public rental units, 20 per cent are qualified to apply – therefore, we need to settle the remaining 40 per cent of tenants,” Wong said.
“We should keep in mind that, after renovation, there will still be subdivided units available on the market. Therefore, those who prefer not to apply for public rental units, or are not eligible to apply, they will have options to live in these standard subdivided units.”
Authorities have rolled out schemes such as Transitional Housing and Light Public Housing to provide temporary homes for those awaiting government subsidised units.
However, these who have not applied for subsidised units are not qualified to move to transitional housing or light public housing.
Wong said the next five years will see “a bumper crop for public rental units.”
“Considering light public housing, a total of 18,900 public rental units will be completed – much more than the number of units completed in the former five years.” Wong said.
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