Flats will keep shrinking until Hong Kong’s government changes course
Peter Kammerer says that the government’s role in Hong Kong’s out-of-control flat prices is clear, and until it changes policy on land revenue, living spaces will remain a race to the bottom
It shouldn’t be this way – if only the government could shake itself from its reliance on keeping land prices high as its main means of revenue.
Sustainable land use policy for the New Territories would also greatly help. It’s debatable whether so much area needs to be set aside for country parks that were once essential for water catchment, but are no longer needed for that purpose as supplies mostly come from the mainland. But until authorities change their mindset, we’re stuck with having to think and buy small.
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At 190 centimetres tall, I’m not about to push the idea that 170 sq ft is enough for a person to live in; my bed alone takes up one-fifth of that space. But I’ve come to appreciate the benefits of compact living, with such space requiring less effort to maintain and clean, while ensuring that personal possessions are kept to a minimum.
My ideal flat size is 400 sq ft usable area for a single person, 550 sq ft for a couple and 700 sq ft for a family of three, give or take a few tens of sq ft. These are just my personal feelings and minimums are up for debate.
Of course, important factors like natural lighting, nearness to other buildings, ambient noise levels and views from windows have to be taken into account to ensure psychological well-being. The size would seem shockingly small to Westerners and is certainly a joke to Singaporeans. But put in the context of Hong Kong, it is reasonable.
Making it affordable to the average Hongkonger in the present climate of tight land supply is quite another matter. If only we had a government that put the needs of the majority of the population ahead of those of vested interests and was willing to overhaul its outdated policies.
Peter Kammerer is a senior writer at the Post