Why are some Hong Kong subdivided housing tenants turning down temporary flats?

Society for Community Organisation, subdivided housing tenants urge authorities to offer alternative flats that fit needs of relocated residents

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Wong Chi-kong has turned down an offer of temporary government housing because the estate is too remote from the rest of the city. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 5:53pm, 6 Oct 2024Updated: 7:10pm, 6 Oct 2024

Wong Chi-kong, 77, pays HK$2,800 (US$360) a month for a 40 sq ft living space in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po, sleeping in a bunk bed next to a toilet and having to dine out due to a lack of cooking facilities.

When the Housing Bureau offered him a 150 sq ft transitional housing flat near Kam Sheung Road in Yuen Long, he turned it down because the estate was too far out and hard to reach.

“I tried visiting the neighbourhood twice, but the taxi driver couldn’t even find it because it was so remote. If I am hungry at night, there are no restaurants nearby,” he said.

Wong is now joining other subdivided flat tenants in calling for authorities to offer better resettlement packages that suit residents’ needs.

The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) on Sunday echoed the call and urged authorities to introduce stricter regulations targeting low-quality housing ahead of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address on October 16.

Social welfare lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen said housing authorities should also set up a task force of social workers to support subdivided flat tenants during the stressful process of relocating.