Hong Kong government unlikely to reach target of 280,000 new public housing flats over the next decade
Housing minister Anthony Cheung says the government has identified only enough land to build 236,000 flats – well short of its target of 280,000
The Hong Kong government is likely to fall short of its target of building 280,000 public housing flats over the next decade due to increasing difficulties in securing land, a thorny task expected to be thrust into the hands of the city’s next leader.
The revelation came as the government released its annual long-term housing strategy progress report on Tuesday, which showed it had identified only enough land to build 236,000 flats by 2027, down from the 255,000 it forecast last year.
The total housing supply target was maintained at 460,000 flats for the next decade: 280,000 for public housing and 180,000 for private housing, a ratio of 60:40.
Secretary for Transport and Housing Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung admitted the shortfall of 44,000 public housing flats served as a warning that it was getting more difficult to find land.
“There’s a discrepancy with our aim,” he said, explaining that the planning process had become more lengthy and complicated due to community opposition.