The waiting time for public housing is long. The "Policy Address" proposes to build 30,000 simple public housing units in five years for families or individuals who have been waiting for public housing for three years or more to apply.
Housing Bureau Secretary Ho Wing-yin said in an interview that the target was "set high and under pressure", and pointed out that there were many variables in the project, and he hoped that the target could be achieved "by a little bit".
As for those who live in simple public housing and have not yet gone upstairs when their living period ends, they have to move to other projects, which is a disguised "transition and transition". There is a violation of the intent of the policy.
He Yongxian also expects that the long queue for traditional public housing will not be "digested" until the second five-year period from 2028/29 to 2032/33, which means that there is still a long time before the 3-year commitment to go upstairs.
As for the floor area proposed for HOS and public housing, which is only slightly higher than the per capita living area in Singapore, she admits that the relevant policy is only a starting point. There may be an opportunity for these areas to be readjusted later in the next five-year period.
▼On November 22, Ho Wing-hsien, Director of the Housing Bureau, interviewed about simple public housing▼
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The goal of building 30,000 in 5 years is under pressure and the actual site selection has not been disclosed
Ho Wing-hsien, director of the Housing Bureau, said bluntly in an interview, "We set a target of 30,000 yuan to pressure ourselves and set it too high, so we said it was about 30,000 yuan." She continued to explain that there are many variables in the project, and this time the project is proposed Quickly, describing the assignment to the ArchSD as a "very difficult task", "For myself, I set a target of 30,000. I want to reach it, and I hope to pass it."
Ho Wing-yin pointed out that the demand for public housing in Hong Kong will be about 301,000 units in the next 10 years. Hong Kong has enough land supply to build 360,000 units. There will be a buffer between the two. However, due to the low supply in the first five years, the public housing waiting list The team was too long, so it was proposed that the ArchSD build 30,000 simple public housing units in five years by means of rapid construction, with areas ranging from 10 to 31 square meters, that is, about 107 to 334 square feet.
Some developers are willing to provide land to build simple public housing
Ho Wing-yin pointed out that in addition to the list of available land provided by the Development Bureau, which will be handed over to the Architectural Services Department to screen the available land, some developers also indicated that there is private land that may be available.
She said that knowing that the public is concerned about site selection, "there are so many options to choose from, it is inevitable that some of them are in the New Territories, but our thinking is that there are everything." She added that some of the selections were The site is located in the more mature New Territories area, and also on Hong Kong Island, but the detailed site selection has not been disclosed.
▼On October 25, the Housing Bureau announced the design of the simple public housing interior ▼
The average number of transitional housing units is only 400 units, and the number of simple public housing units is expected to reach 1,000 units per project
She continued to mention that in the past, the average number of units in each transitional housing project was 400 units, and only a few institutions could undertake projects with more than 1,000 units. , that is, if you need 70 sites, I can save up to 30,000 at first.”
Compared with transitional housing projects, the scale of simple public housing is relatively large. He Yongxian said that each of them should have as many as 1,000 units. She revealed that some of the 6 lands currently being sought can be built with thousands of units. In the future, through bidding, they will be handed over to different parties. Non-profit organizations, management companies, or jointly operated by them.
The simple public housing has a preliminary design and the cost per square meter is similar to that of transitional housing
He Yongxian pointed out that the Architectural Services Department has a preliminary design, but it has not yet reached the stage of "in-depth design". The cost per square meter is similar, that is, about 20,000 yuan.
The first modular social housing in Hong Kong, "Nanchang 220", was occupied in August last year. The lease will last for two years and expire in August next year.
(Provided by HKCSS)
"Transition and transition" does not violate the original intention of the policy "Residents have choices"
It is mentioned that after the people waiting for public housing live in transitional housing or simple public housing in the future, there is still a chance that they will not go upstairs when the project is completed, and they will need to move to other similar projects, which becomes "transition and transition".
He Yongxian said that whether it is transitional housing or simple public housing, it is hoped that when many people are waiting for public housing, they can provide choices for waiting people, so that they can "wait (to go upstairs) well."
She explained that the so-called "waiting well" means that the living environment and rent expenses of the waiting people have been improved, so she does not feel that "transition and transition" violates the original intention of the policy.
I think about the idea of returning to transitional housing. I think it is the same as simple public housing, that is, if there are so many people queuing up, and it is such a bad environment, you will be given a choice to transition better.
Housing Secretary Ho Wing-yin
As for some transitional housing residents who want to return to subdivided housing after the completion of the project, He Yongxian said that he has heard about it, and also mentioned that non-profit organizations operating transitional housing will provide assistance on a door-to-door basis, including when the project is about to end, Assist the residents who have not yet gone upstairs to move to other projects, thinking that the residents actually have choices, but these choices may not be suitable.
They (non-profit-making organizations) try their best to introduce them (residents). You know that transitional housing is available now, but it is really a personal choice. There are some uncertainties or various reasons. She chooses to return In the past, I heard that several households returned to the so-called subdivision of the house, but there are options, but these options may not be suitable for them.
Housing Secretary Ho Wing-yin
It is expected that the second five-year period will be digested in the latter part of the waiting period.
He Yongxian also expects that the long queue for public housing will not be digested until the end of the second five-year period, that is, from 2028/29 to the end of 2032/33, which means that there is still a long time to go before going upstairs in 3 years .
One of the KPIs in the Policy Address mentions that the "comprehensive waiting time for public housing" will be reduced to about 4.5 years within four years. Ho Wing-yin pointed out that the newly launched comprehensive waiting time for public housing will not be the same as the waiting time for traditional public housing for the time being. There is a difference. When the number of simple public housing starts to increase in 2025/26, I believe there will be a significant difference in the figures.
▼Policy Address Press Conference on October 20▼
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He Yongxian: At least let the public know about the size limit of HOS and public housing
As for the expectation of Hong Kong people to "live bigger", as mentioned in the policy address, the area of subsidized housing completed in 2026/27 will be capped at 26 square meters (about 280 square feet), and the interior facade of public housing except for one- to two-person units The area is limited to 21 square meters (approximately 226 square feet), and if the usable area is calculated, it will be nearly 26 square meters. The two types of houses will be on the same level as private buildings.
However, when asked about the size limit of these houses, it is still only slightly higher than Singapore's "per capita living area" of 25.1 square meters (about 270 square feet). She said that the policy address proposed is a starting point to let the public know that the unit size will not It is further narrowed down, and it is expected to wait until the end of the second five-year period, or make adjustments if conditions permit.
I think this is a starting point, before the public can see it, so it won't be the first.
Housing Secretary Ho Wing-yin
She continued to explain that if a piece of land is only built with 200-square-foot units, only 100 units can be provided, but there are big rules and regulations that can build 120 units. You try to provide as much (number of units) as possible, so that everyone will have a chance when the waiting list is tight... If the land is only enough for half of the people, then the other half will have no chance, so it is better to divide it up , Waiting for everyone to have a house to live in and a roof tile to cover their heads is a decision similar to this.”
Simple public housing｜The minimum rent is expected to be only 570 yuan, about 10% off for newly completed public housing in the same district Transitional housing is no different if the location is remote Hebei Social Welfare Organization Operation Policy Report｜Yongxian Ho: The rent of simple public housing is low, the materials are poor, the environment is poor, the rent is subdivided, and there is no living space. The surrounding supporting facilities of simple and simple public housing are less than traditional. There may not be a place reserved for shopping malls to open small shops.
