Hong Kong lawmakers approve light housing scheme for 17,000 flats in first phase, but grill authorities over ‘poor costs communication and response to resident concerns’
- Funding of HK$14.9 billion must still be secured from Legco’s Finance Committee
- Lawmakers also concerned if temporary homes can be reused to maximise worth in future
Hong Kong lawmakers on Wednesday approved a new temporary housing programme to build 17,000 homes for the needy in the first phase of the project, but some legislators accused authorities of poor communication on costs and inadequate response to concerns of affected residents.
The “light public housing” scheme, which aims to build about 30,000 flats by 2027 for those waiting for permanent public rental homes, still needs to secure HK$14.9 billion (US$1.9 billion) in funding out of an eventual total of HK$26.4 billion from the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee next month.
All but one of the 35 lawmakers involved in the vote endorsed the plan, as housing authorities revealed more project details to seek support.
‘30,000 temporary public flats to be built on 8 sites over 5 years in Hong Kong’
“The government should have explained the cost details clearly and timely instead of only after lawmakers raised queries. This is not ideal,” legislator Ma Fung-kwok said in the meeting.
The government last month said each home would cost between HK$530,000 and HK$650,000 to build, including works such as stairs and lifts.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin on Wednesday told lawmakers much of the initially requested funds would go towards creating external infrastructure, such as roads and bus stops, given the project’s large scale.
Several lawmakers also expressed concerns about the cost of demolition and removal of the flats later, as well as storage of the unassembled components.
Ho said the initial funding request included fees for dismantling the temporary homes but stopped short of giving an estimate, while the transport and assembly costs would be covered in the budgets for future projects that reused the structures.
“It is difficult to tell what they will be used for after seven years … We believe we will discuss that later, such as for storage places, office and hostel projects. We are open to different opinions,” she said, adding she expected about 70 per cent of components could be reused.
‘Some temporary public flats could cost more to build than permanent homes’
Lawmaker Kitson Yang Wing-kit, who cast a blank vote, urged the government to answer queries on Kai Tak, one of four project sites featured in the initial funding request and a prime urban plot at the centre of a protest, with angry residents worried the development would affect property prices and transport.
“Residents do not believe the site will be resumed for commercial development after two years of construction and five years of usage. Can you please explain?” Yang asked, adding the area’s community facilities would not be able to cater to the influx of people from the new project.
Doris Ho Pui-ling, permanent secretary for development, said 70 per cent of a planned underground retail zone in Kai Tak linking adjacent areas would operate from 2023 to 2029, with the plot earmarked for light public housing to also be part of the remaining stretch when the project ended.
“We have promised that the land will be returned to implement the long-term commercial development,” Ho said, adding authorities would start a feasibility study on setting up a community service building in Kai Tak soon.
Hong Kong’s Kai Tak housing plan grounds high-flying expectations
Housing minister Ho said the government would continue to liaise with residents and the district councils.
Residents in Kai Tak on Wednesday said they were “extremely disappointed” with lawmakers’ decision to pass the funding request to the Finance Committee, potentially delaying the area’s core business district development, and had collected more than 16,000 signatures outside the proposed site on Olympic Avenue.
“Government officials have distorted our meaning and stigmatised us on social media to forcefully implement the scheme,” they said in a statement.
Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun earlier took to social media to defend the scheme and warned its opponents against “stirring up social conflicts”, while Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing queried why people were against an initiative aimed at helping poor households.
06:47
Living in 15 sq ft: Inside Hong Kong’s coffin homes
Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun, who had expressed doubts on whether authorities could ensure stable occupancy rates at scheme sites in the New Territories, emphasised at Wednesday’s meeting that no one objected to helping impoverished residents but instead sought to safeguard public money and land resources.
“Please don’t put labels on people. Please don’t say that people sound mean when they have queries on government policy,” Tien said.
Subcommittee member and legislator Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, who did not attend Wednesday’s meeting after disapproving of the transparency of the costs, said the body’s decision had been too hasty.
The programme targets residents who have been waiting for a public rental home for at least three years, with an aim to cut the queuing time for permanent and temporary public flats from six years to 4½ years by 2026-27. The average wait time for public housing is currently 5.6 years.
Hong Kong unveils sites for ‘light public housing’ scheme for temporary homes
President Xi Jinping, on his visit to the city on July 1 last year to mark the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, spoke publicly of his expectation that Lee’s administration would tackle the housing shortfall.
Xia Baolong, the top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs in 2021, also urged the city government at the time to prioritise resolving housing issues and get rid of subdivided flats and “cage homes”.
The initial funding application covers four of the eight locations for temporary housing, with the first batch of 2,100 homes to be built in Yuen Long by 2024-25. There are four other plots in the New Territories, including in Tuen Mun and Sheung Shui, while three are urban locations, namely in Kai Tak, Choi Wan and Chai Wan.
Rents for the temporary flats, ranging from HK$570 to HK$2,650, are also far lower than what is charged for subdivided homes.
