Hong Kong should avoid negative labels for certified subdivided flats as they provide accommodation to people from all walks of life, the housing minister has said, while stressing that a planned shake-up of standards will not drive up rents.
In an exclusive interview with the Post, Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin also said temporary flats were likely to continue serving residents in the future and form part of the city’s housing ladder, but ruled out plans to further create a supply of starter homes for first-time buyers.
Proposals to regulate the city’s subdivided housing, which are notorious for their hygiene, safety and security hazards, are currently being scrutinised by the Legislative Council.
Under the coming policy, subdivided flats that meet the official standards and are accredited as “basic housing units” are allowed to remain on the rental market.
“We are giving a certification to basic housing units, which meet basic standards and are no longer inferior. I will not label them. They are simply choices made by different people at different times,” Ho said.
She gave the reply to a question about whether authorities would prefer residents to leave such flats and move up the housing ladder.
