As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead.
Hong Kong’s first rectified subdivided home is expected to be approved by authorities in the next two months, while about 19,000 flats have already registered for the renovation policy’s grace period, the housing minister has revealed.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Ying-yin said the government would still need to wait at least four years to officially fulfil Beijing’s order to eradicate substandard homes, at which point prosecution efforts will kick in.
“We will have the first ‘basic housing unit’ certified very soon … It will happen within the next month or two,” she told the South China Morning Post in an exclusive interview.
“Having 15 cases [for recognition] within the first four months is a very good sign that owners are starting to catch up and take action.”
She said it was expected that residents would need time to understand the requirements, review their own properties and find professionals to help them.
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