Editorial | Hong Kong must ensure law on basic housing serves its intended purpose

The shock waves triggered by the Basic Housing Units Ordinance were already being felt before the law came into effect as renovations by landlords forced more than 100 households at a Cheung Sha Wan building to relocate. Such an outcome is to be expected during a consolidation period for compliance. Officials believed some 30,000 of the existing 110,000 units would not meet the requirements. The adverse impact should be kept to a minimum.

A law setting minimum standards for residential units was long overdue. While the law that was passed falls short of expectations that all subdivided flats be outlawed for good, a total ban at this stage is unrealistic given the sizeable market. The challenges involved in eliminating subdivided flats altogether in affluent Hong Kong must not be underestimated.

The government’s 4,000 transitional public rental units and a grace period effectively up to four years as a buffer notwithstanding, some low-income households have had to move out quickly and are scrambling for whatever they can afford in an overheated market. The adjustment in the run-up to actual enforcement is a stress test of the regulation’s impact. Hopefully, the long-term implementation will also indicate whether an eventual total ban is feasible.

The government has come a long way in tackling the subdivided flat conundrum that has stained the city’s image as a modern and caring society. The task ahead is to ensure the new regime is implemented smoothly, taking into account the compliance situation and the impact on tenants.