Typhoons and private sector apathy stand in way of widespread adoption in Hong Kong of faster construction method, experts say
- Prefabricated homes in high-rise Hong Kong should be more robust to better withstand tropical cyclones, developer says
- Private sector also wary of start-up costs for modular integrated construction, which is hailed for its potential to ease housing shortages
The destructive power of typhoons and a lack of private sector interest are preventing the wider use of a construction technique hailed by many for its potential to fix Hong Kong’s housing crisis, according to experts.
The average waiting time for a public housing flat in Hong Kong is 5.9 years, the longest in more than two decades.
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Prefabricated flats quickly take shape in Hong Kong as city tries out new construction technique
The MiC technique involves integrated parts being fabricated, finished and inspected in a factory, often based in mainland China, then transported to a building site for assembly.
Eliza Wong Yeuk-lan, a member of the Construction Industry Council and Swire Properties’ projects general manager, said there was still room for improvement when it came to constructing higher-rise buildings using the technology.
“The challenge in Hong Kong is we are still subject to typhoons and [adverse] weather conditions ... the structure needs to be more robust,” she said.
Earlier research by the University of Hong Kong found MiC could speed up construction by 50 per cent, but Wong noted there was limited data available at the time of the study. She said the council would need more information before it could properly assess the technology for a range of different projects.
A government official, meanwhile, said it should do more to encourage the private sector to adopt the MiC method in the long run, with most such projects currently run by the administration.