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Edith Lin

A task force looking into regulating Hong Kong’s notorious subdivided flats has submitted its report to the city’s leader, who asked it to also incorporate views from his recent public consultation sessions and some new elements and hand in the findings in a month.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he had received the report on Thursday morning from the government task force set up last year to address the problem of subdivided flats, which are notorious for their poor hygiene and safety hazards.
“After examining the report, I have provided the task force with views I received during the policy address consultation and requested them to incorporate them into the study,” Lee said in a social media post, referring to the public feedback sessions he launched on July 31.
“I have also suggested new elements for the task force’s consideration and instructed it to submit further study findings within a month.”
Lee stressed that he would study those findings before announcing any decisions.
The Housing Bureau noted that the task force had discussed the flat size, height, lighting, ventilation and facilities of subdivided housing, and provided concrete suggestions.


The team had also hired a consulting firm to visit 2,600 subdivided flats across the city to collect information, organised more than 20 consultation sessions with academics, political parties, professional groups and welfare bodies, and received over 40 written opinions.
The formation of the task force was announced in Lee’s policy address last October, with the group told to set minimum standards for subdivided housing, suggest measures to eradicate substandard homes and propose orderly solutions.
Led by Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, the task force also includes Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin and Director of Housing Rosanna Law Shuk-pui.
The chief executive said Wong’s team had reported on the data collected on subdivided housing and on suggestions raised by different stakeholders, including the minimum standards of flat sizes, as well as structural, fire safety and hygiene requirements.
He described the report as objective and specific, and said he hoped it could set up a mechanism to eradicate substandard subdivided homes and improve their residents’ living environment.

According to census figures in 2021, Hong Kong has 108,200 subdivided flats, 17 per cent more than the 92,700 in 2016.
Housing minister Ho earlier told the Post that authorities had considered setting a minimum size of between 75 and 108 sq ft for subdivided flats. The authorities would also regulate subdivided flats in phases, with higher-risk homes in certain districts and buildings prioritised for eradication, she said.
Ho added that the new measures would only be enforced when temporary housing was made available to accommodate uprooted tenants.
The minister also revealed that landlords had to meet the new standards within a grace period and would face a penalty if they failed to comply.
According to official schedules, 30,000 temporary homes will be ready in stages by the 2026-27 financial year under the government’s “light public housing” initiative to accommodate families who have waited for a public rental flat for at least three years.
Another 19,000 transitional homes, built by developers collaborating with welfare groups, will also offer short-term housing options by the same financial year.


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Hong Kong housing

Hong Kong subdivided flats: task force given more work to do after submitting report to John Lee

A resident in a Sham Shui Po subdivided flat with no windows or air conditioning. A government task force has submitted its assessment report of such substandard housing. Photo: Dickson Lee

A resident in a subdivided flat in Mong Kok. Hong Kong’s subdivided housing blocks are notorious for their poor hygiene and safety hazards. Photo: Sam Tsang

Hong Kong’s subdivided flats: officials may set minimum size between 75 and 108 sq ft

At least 220,000 people in the city live in subdivided flats, which are notorious for hygiene, safety and security hazards. Photo: Sun Yeung

Hong Kong aims to wipe out notorious subdivided flats but will new rules help or hurt tenants?

 Illustration: Brian Wang

Yu Yu-fen shares a kitchen and a bathroom with 30 other tenants. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong has 10,170 subdivided flats that are less than 70 sq ft. Photo: Sam Tsang

A subdivided flat with wire cages in Tai Kok Tsui. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Concerning Subdivided Units Alliance member Isaac Lin has urged the government to consider setting the minimum size requirements at 280 sq ft. Photo: Edmond So

One-person households accounted for the highest proportion of subdivided homes in 2021. Photo: Edmond So

Some people have no choice but to live in subdivided space, an academic says. Edmond So

Is 100 sq ft too small a minimum for subdivided flats? Hong Kong experts take the measure of controversial problem blighting city

A mother and daughter in their subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po. Photo: May Tse

A Kwun Tong subdivided flat shared by a mother and son with no separate bathroom. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Hong Kong to establish minimum standards for subdivided flats, but timeline to phase them out yet to be set: housing chief

At least 220,000 people in the city live in subdivided flats. Photo: Dickson Lee

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho says authorities will set minimum standards for subdivided flats. Photo: Edmond So

Authorities set up a new task force to tackle the issue of subdivided housing in the city. Photo: Dickson Lee

News

Hong Kong

Society

City leader receives report on how to regulate subdivided housing, but wants further look at feedback from recent policy address consultations


City leader receives report on how to regulate subdivided housing, but wants further look at feedback from recent policy address consultations.
