Hongkongers moving into transitional housing to get one-off special allowance of up to HK$11,550, with highest amount for those in New Territories
- Sums based on ‘challenges’ faced in different locations, with occupancy rate higher for those in urban areas
- Families moving into transitional housing on or after June 16 eligible for handouts from HK$1,800
Hongkongers moving into certain new transitional housing flats will be granted a one-off special allowance of up to HK$11,550 (US$1,474) under a new trial scheme, with authorities hoping the sum will motivate residents to relocate to the New Territories.
Acting housing secretary Victor Tai Sheung-shing on Tuesday said tenants who chose to relocate to transitional housing built by NGOs in the New Territories and outlying islands would receive more than double the amount for those moving to projects in urban areas, noting the extra challenges faced.
“We set a difference between those moving into urban areas and the New Territories because we realised the latter tend to be more in need,” Tai told a radio show.
“Many of our potential residents are those living in unsuitable environments, such as subdivided flats in urban areas, and they need more help moving into a new district.”
He cited as an example children of such households having to buy new supplies when they changed schools.
Introduced in 2017, transitional housing is a government initiative to help families waiting for public rental flats and those forced to live in poor conditions in tiny subdivided spaces. With 135,500 families and single elderly applicants in the queue, the average waiting time for public flats is 5.6 years.
