Hong Kong housing minister pushes for subdivided flats to be managed by NGOs under pilot scheme
Proposal from new housing minister Frank Chan Fan would see non-governmental organisations step in to manage pre-approved public homes
Hong Kong’s new housing minister is looking to roll out a pilot scheme through a crowdfunding drive within the year to enlist non-governmental organisations to operate government-approved subdivided rental flats.
While admitting the scheme was not a solution to the city’s housing crisis, Frank Chan Fan said demand for interim accommodation by public housing applicants could not be ignored.
Watch: The group trying to help Hong Kong’s subdivided flat families
The long-running practice of dividing flats into smaller cubicles and renting them out to poor families has often raised concerns about fire hazards and inhumane living conditions, but the government is looking to utilise this form of housing to ease the crunch.
At a media gathering yesterday, Chan said talks were underway between the government and NGOs to work out details of how these flats would be operated.
“I have had a few phone calls with the labour and welfare minister [Law Chi-kwong] and development minister [Michael Wong Wai-lun] to discuss the matter,” Chan said