Hong Kong’s light public housing scheme secures HK$14.9 billion funding approval, breezes through Legco despite mounting concerns
- Legco votes 58-1 in favour of request, sets in motion scheme to supply 30,000 flats by 2027 at total cost of HK$26.4 billion
- But questions remain about government’s ability to rein in costs, funds needed for demolition and usage of components after sites dismantled
Legco’s Finance Committee gave the green light for funds to build the first batch of four light public housing projects with a vote of 58-1. The batch will supply 17,000 flats for low-income residents in phases from 2024-25 through developments across the city, with two in Yuen Long and Tuen Mun in the New Territories, and two in the urban areas of Ngau Tau Kok and Kai Tak.
The only opposing vote came from Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, while Michael Tien Puk-sun, from political party Roundtable, abstained. Another 21 lawmakers did not cast their votes.
The HK$14.9 billion request was for the first of two funding allocations for the light public housing scheme, which aims to build about 30,000 flats by 2027 at a total cost of HK$26.4 billion. The flats are aimed at providing a bridging option for those waiting for permanent public rental homes.
Unlike Hong Kong’s long-standing rental housing scheme, the temporary flats will only be used for five years, after which they will be dismantled with the sites being handed over to the Development Bureau for long-term commercial land use.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin assured lawmakers the government would strive to strike a balance between providing more community facilities and reining in construction costs, especially for speeding up the project with the use of modular technology.
“We are determined to resolve this problem of [housing supply] … For rolling out the light public housing, we need to build some supporting measures to attract more users,” she said.