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Edith Lin

William Yiu

Hong Kong authorities have learned of cases of subdivided-flat tenants allegedly being evicted due to landlords renovating the homes ahead of a government clampdown on subpar housing, a minister has said.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said it was the first time the Rating and Valuation Department had received such complaints, which were filed on Thursday, with the landlords involved in the two cases suspected of kicking out tenants in anticipation of the new regulations.
Ho stressed the proposed regulations were still undergoing consultation and would be subject to changes ahead of their passage into law.
“We are in the consultation period. [The requirements raised in the consultation paper] are just the government’s suggestions,” she told a radio programme on Saturday.
“Will the Legislative Council have other suggestions for us to amend? Everyone should wait until the bill is ready.”
Even after the bill became law, landlords would still have time to fix their properties under the government’s proposed grace period, she added.
Ho also reassured those living in subdivided flats that their tenancies were protected by the existing Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance.
Under the ordinance, any landlord convicted of unlawfully depriving a tenant of their flat faces a fine of up to HK$500,000 (US$64,000) and 12 months in prison. Repeat offenders face a HK$1 million penalty and three years in jail.
The government’s shake-up of subpar homes will require properties to achieve an official standard to remain on the market as a “basic housing unit”.

The currently proposed requirements include flats having a minimum size of 86 sq ft (eight square metres), a ceiling height of 2.3 metres (7.5 feet), proper windows and at least one toilet in each home.
Such flats should also fulfil the city’s fire and structural safety standards.
Ho said on Saturday that the government was taking into account the pressure on the public and the time needed to wipe out subpar flats as they set a minimum standard.
She said authorities would also consider easing the ventilation requirement for flats facing lightwells, but the decision would depend on the results of an in-depth study and consultation.
Some flats on higher floors with lightwells could potentially offer better ventilation and more sunlight, she explained.
The government aims to wrap up its consultation on February 10, before laying out a finalised proposal and having the bill passed next year. The registration process for subdivided flats would then start as early as the fourth quarter of 2025.
Under the measure, landlords would receive a grace period of one to two years to fix their properties. Once the renovations were finished, they would receive a certificate valid for five years.
The government has already proposed punishing landlords caught renting out subpar housing with a maximum punishment of three years in prison and a HK$300,000 fine.
Ho noted that authorities did not have sufficient manpower to combat the wider issue for now, but said the worst subdivided flats would be the government’s first target.
“To be honest, we do not have sufficient manpower to launch a citywide check in a short time. We will only take action according to the severity of the flats being subdivided and each building’s situation,” she said.


Ho also discussed a High Court decision to overturn the conditional approval given by environmental authorities for a plan to build 12,000 public flats on part of the city’s oldest golf course.
She said the government would study the impact of the decision on the city’s housing supply, adding that authorities had made preparations and the plot was only scheduled to become available in the latter half of the coming decade.
The government was confident it could meet its target of providing 308,000 public flats over the coming decade, Ho said, noting the existing land supply could already meet the city’s housing needs.
Ho also congratulated Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, who previously served as director of housing, on her promotion to secretary for culture, sports and tourism earlier this week.
“Rosanna is very capable, with a lively personality, and she also has good interpersonal skills and likes watching performances,” Ho said, adding she had a good working relationship with Law.
The housing minister also said she was delighted to see more women taking up roles in the government as principal officials.


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Hong Kong housing

Hong Kong logs first cases of evictions ahead of subdivided-flats clampdown

Hong Kong plans to offer landlords a grace period to renovate their subdivided flats. Photo: Eugene Lee

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho has urged the public to wait until the bill is ready. Photo: Edmond So

Last tenants to leave ‘luxury’ Hong Kong public housing estate 6 years early

The 18-block Wah Fu Estate in Pok Fu Lam will be redeveloped. Photo: May Tse

The South Island line will be extended. Photo: Edmond So

Court ruling is latest twist in long battle to build flats on Hong Kong golf course

The Hong Kong Golf Club at Fanling. Under a proposal floated in 2022, 12,000 public flats would be built on 9.5 hectares of the 32 hectares by 2029. Photo: Dickson Lee

The  club says the housing proposal will compromise its ability to organise world-class competitions, affecting the city’s sports tourism. Photo: Dickson Lee

Lawmaker Doreen Kong, also a lawyer, says it would not be appropriate for the government to take advantage of a change to the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance that allows it to avoid an impact assessment for the project. Photo: Edmond So

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Hong Kong

Hong Kong economy

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho says complaints allege landlords evicted tenants in anticipation of government’s clampdown on subpar flats


Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho says complaints allege landlords evicted tenants in anticipation of government’s clampdown on subpar flats.


Hong Kong society

Hong Kong property