Third pro-Beijing party offers aggressive proposal to solve Hong Kong’s housing shortage – which some blame for anti-government protest crisis
- With district council elections in November and no end in sight for political turmoil, parties turn attention to housing problem
- Business Professionals Alliance says renovating 19 ageing estates could add 135,000 units to city’s housing supply – others disagree
A third pro-Beijing party has proposed an aggressive plan to increase Hong Kong’s housing supply, calling on the government to redevelop antiquated public housing estates.
The Business Professionals Alliance released a report on Tuesday that highlighted 19 public estates that were previously assessed by the Housing Authority – but not earmarked for renovation.
The oldest estate, the Model Housing Estate in Quarry Bay, is close to 70 years old. The report said renovating these estates, some with serious safety issues like crumbling ceilings, would provide an estimated 200,000 units, adding 135,000 units to the city’s housing supply.
“The housing supply is currently in a state in which the harder you chase, the farther you fall behind,” said Dr Lo Wai Kwok, the chairman of the alliance, at a press conference.
“To completely solve maintenance issues and improve living conditions for residents, rebuilding the estates is the only way.”
Housing supply is currently in a state in which the harder you chase, the farther you fall behind
Two other pro-establishment parties, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress (DAB) and the Federation of Trade Unions, had also offered recent proposals for the housing crisis.