Bill to better protect residents of Hong Kong’s subdivided flats in works, leader Carrie Lam says

The Hong Kong government this year plans to introduce a bill in the Legislative Council that will better protect residents living in subdivided flats, the city’s leader has said.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also agreed to allow pro-establishment lawmaker Alice Mak Mei-kuen to introduce a private member’s bill – a move rarely seen when the opposition camp was still in Legco – to amend a law to prevent landlords from overcharging tenants for water.

“I hope this move will reflect my respect for the constitutional functions of Legco and my willingness to take on members’ proposals,” Lam said.

The announcement came after a government-appointed task force studying policies for subdivided flats indicated rent controls should be reintroduced and a standard tenancy agreement imposed to protect poor families. It is due to make its recommendations in March.

“After months of discussions and study, the [task force] agrees in principle that the government should implement suitable tenancy control on subdivided units to safeguard the interests of grass-roots tenants, while carefully balancing the interests of landlords,” Lam said.

The government would draft a bill, taking into account the suggestions of the task force and legislators, she added.