Green rules give us more small flats, but bigger homes for rich

By taking advantage of the same green policy that leaves most flat buyers with small apartments, the very rich can vastly increase the size of their homes.

In the most recent instance, the city's wealthiest tycoon, Li Ka-shing, recently had an estate enlarged by more than 9,100 square feet.

Under a policy that exempts amenities and environment-friendly facilities from the calculation of gross floor area, the government approved a 'bonus area' that more than doubled the original 8,842 sq ft area of the Li residence.

The exemption connects to public unhappiness over the practice of charging buyers for the gross floor area of flats.

Just as developers are encouraged by the Buildings Department to expand floor area if they add green features like podiums, gardens, balconies and club houses - thus increasing the gross footage and rent of each unit - rich homeowners are able to use the same freedoms to maximise their plot ratios.

For wealthy home-builders like Li, this policy can be very convenient. According to details made public by the Buildings Department on Tuesday, Li's house at 79 Deep Water Bay Road is allowed 9,100 sq ft for its green features, amenity features, car park and plant rooms.

The car park, including the loading and unloading areas, accounts for 6,018 sq ft. If a parking space is 200 sq ft, then Li's parking lot can hold 30 cars.