Hong Kong should end ‘low-quality’ subdivided homes within 3 years, say pro-gov’t lawmakers
Hong Kong Free Press
Sub-divided homes in Hong Kong should measure no less than 7 square metres, the pro-Beijing DAB party has proposed, as the government mulls new measures to eradicate “low-quality sub-divided flats.”
Vincent Cheng, legislator for the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), said during a Monday press conference that his party will submit a report to the government on Tuesday to propose a new mechanism to identify “low-quality sub-divided flats.”
According to the proposal, a sub-divided dwelling should measure no lower than 1.8 in height or 7 square metres in floorspace, whilst the kitchen and toilet should be separate. Construction of the unit should obey with Fire Services Ordinance and Buildings Ordinance.
The party estimated that around 10,000 sub-divided units would be eradicated if the government adopts such a standard to define “low-quality” units.
It also suggested that all “qualified” sub-divided units should be officially registered in the future, and the city should bid farewell to all substandard housing in the coming two to three years.
Hong Kong is notorious for sky-high private property prices and the average waiting time for rent-subsidised government flats is around 5.5 years. According to a government report, by 2020, there were around 110,008 subdivided units in Hong Kong, including subdivided flats, cubicles, bedspaces, space capsules, loft spaces and rooftop dwellings.
The city’s leader John Lee said in his 2023 policy address that authorities plan to eradicate “low-quality” subdivided units. The Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units will submit a report on new measures to tackle substandard units to the “patriots only” legislature by August.
Concerns over resettlement
The new mechanism to regulate sub-divided units will affect the lives of families living in them, local NGO the Society for Community Organization (SoCO) said in its June proposal to the government, adding that tenants welcomed the government’s new move, but were worried about resettlement plans.
According to SoCO’s estimates, there are nearly 250,000 people living in the city’s subdivided units.
The group advocated granting some time for landlords of “low-quality” subdivided units to rebuild or renovate the units. It also proposed that tenants who have already applied for public housing units should be allocated a subsidised unit earlier.
SoCO said that, without a good resettlement plan, the new mechanism will only drive tenants to other illegal subdivided units.
The group proposed nine conditions to evaluate a subdivided unit. If a property appeared to meet three conditions, it would be defined as substandard.
The nine conditions included those which referred to floorspace, the lack of windows or ventilation systems, or whether or not a property was rented out as more than five units.
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.