Hong Kong leader vows to focus on housing, land supply and find long-term solutions to issue of subdivided flats
- Chief Executive John Lee visits family of four living in subdivided flat in Yuen Long, the second stop of his community tours aimed at gauging public opinion
- ‘We are studying solutions to address the long-existing subdivided housing problem,’ he says
Hong Kong’s leader pledged on Sunday to stay focused on improving the supply of housing and land despite the litany of other challenges facing the city as he visited a family of four crowded into a subdivided flat ahead of next month’s policy address.
Lee made the promises following a visit to Yuen Long, the second in a series of community tours aimed at better understanding public concerns ahead of his second policy address on October 25.
The city leader visited the family of four living in a subdivided flat on Castle Peak Road, who had already been waiting for public housing for five years, and later admitted to reporters the conditions were far from ideal.
“The two children were doing homework in the cooking area, which is also used for eating. Clothes were also hung above that area,” he said.
In a social media post, Lee noted the flat measured just over 100 sq ft (9.3 square metres) and he could smell the fumes of the cooking oil mixing with the scent of laundry.
“Living under a proper roof is what families care about the most, but each family will have a preference for where they want to live. The most important thing is to give them more choices and make sure they are informed about these options,” he said. “The public can be assured that land supply and housing will be the government’s long-term focus.”
