Editorial | Long-term housing for Tai Po fire survivors requires flexible approach
With some affected residents having to find new accommodation this month, the government must advance work on long-term arrangements
Some hostel residents are understandably worried after being told to vacate their emergency accommodation by the end of this month so that the hostels can resume normal operations. Some say they have just begun to adapt to the new living environment and are therefore reluctant to move.
The provision of youth hostels was never meant to be a long-term solution. After the city’s deadliest high-rise blaze that left thousands of people homeless, the government swiftly secured some 1,000 units in hotels and youth hostels for immediate use up to two weeks, along with some 1,800 transitional housing units for longer use.
Figures in December showed 494 were staying in hotels, while youth hostels and camps accommodated 549. Another 3,591 were living in transitional housing. With some 1,400 units in government transitional and interim housing projects still available, there should be sufficient supply for affected residents. Separately, an annual rental subsidy of HK$150,000 will be available for the next two years, which officials say should be enough to cover rental expenses in Tai Po. Officials said they would exercise discretion in light of the circumstances of individual hostel dwellers and strive to make suitable arrangements for them.
The long-term housing options are more challenging. There have been calls for the government to consider purchasing property rights from homeowners, prioritising displaced residents for the purchase of subsidised flats, building new flats in Tai Po, relocating the eligible to public housing as well as in situ restoration or reconstruction.
The government stopped short of dropping any hint when the issue was discussed during a recent Tai Po District Council meeting. But officials said they were considering providing some options for residents to choose from. This is a sensible approach, given that no single approach can address the needs and different circumstances of thousands of people. The earlier a decision, the better.