Advocacy group calls on Hong Kong leader to commit ‘extra resources’ to solving housing crisis ahead of policy address
- The Society for Community Organisation says stricter rent controls, among other things, are needed to protect residents of subdivided flats
- The calls for action come as pressure mounts from both Beijing and the pro-establishment camp for city leader Carrie Lam to tackle the city’s housing woes
With Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor widely expected to unveil a new blueprint for boosting land supply and alleviating the city’s housing shortage, Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) deputy director Sze Lai-shan on Sunday said she believed the administration would commit “extra planning and resources” to addressing the issue, blaming the government’s “past attitude” for letting the situation get out of hand.
“Now there seems to be more innovation from different parties. We have heard about cooperation from the business sector and concerns from the central government … We hope with this kind of cooperation, we can hope for better housing policies,” Sze said during a press conference.
In July, the director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Xia Baolong, called on the city to eliminate subdivided units and cage homes by 2049. Private developers were also encouraged to support the government in boosting housing supply and improving living standards.
And this past Thursday, one of the deputy directors of the central government’s liaison office, He Jing, visited the New Territories North to assess its development potential, according to the office. He gave his support to a transitional housing project in Kam Tin and carried out in-depth exchanges with local residents and businesses, it said. He viewed New Territories North as an important area for furthering Hong Kong’s integration with mainland China.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the city’s biggest pro-establishment party, recently laid out several short- to long-term suggestions for eradicating subdivided housing.
