Tenants affected by Hong Kong’s proposed clampdown on subdivided flats will not receive priority for public housing allocation, with a minister saying the decision aims to prevent people from moving into subpar homes to game the system.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin also said on Saturday that the government intended to start the legislative process next year to phase out homes smaller than 86 sq ft that lacked windows and independent toilets.
While appearing on a radio programme, the minister was asked whether authorities would introduce special arrangements for tenants of flats that fell below the government’s standards.
“We will be very cautious. There has been a system for queuing public rental housing, which has no direct links with the subdivided flat issue or the new legislation,” Ho said.
“Otherwise, this will encourage people to move into the poorest-condition subdivided flats, in the hopes that they get phased out. This won’t work as it will cause huge problems.”
The minister also shared figures about the average rent charged for subdivided flats across the city, with the monthly cost in 2023 sitting at around HK$5,500 (US$710).
The average rent stood at HK$6,700 for flats on Hong Kong Island, while it was HK$5,100 for a place in Kowloon and HK$4,000 for one in the New Territories, she noted.
