ENG-2009 — Page 267

Chapter 11

Housing

The Government strives to help all families in need gain access to adequate and affordable housing. Those who cannot afford private rental accommodation may apply for subsidised flats under the public housing programme.

Hong Kong's total housing stock in December 2009 was about 2 534 500 flats, comprising about 745 400 public rental housing flats', 393 200 subsidised home ownership flats and 1 395 900 flats in the private sector2. About 30 per cent of Hong Kong's population live in public rental housing flats with another 18 per cent in subsidised home ownership flats.

Housing Policy

The foremost objective of the Government is to provide subsidised public rental housing to low-income people who cannot afford private rental accommodation mainly through the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)3. It also makes every effort to keep the average waiting time for public rental housing at around three years for general applicants. The Government's private housing policy is to maintain a fair and stable environment in which the market can operate and grow healthily. To bring this about, the Government provides adequate amount of land and efficient supporting infrastructure, and keeps its intervention in the property market to a minimum.

1 Including public rental housing and interim housing flats run by the Hong Kong Housing

Authority and rental flats run by the Hong Kong Housing Society.

2

Figures may not add up to total because they are rounded.

3 The HKHA, established in 1973, is a statutory body responsible for implementing the majority of Hong Kong's public housing programmes. The HKHA provides public rental housing to low- income families who cannot afford private rental accommodation. It also runs interim housing and transit centres to provide temporary accommodation to families facing short-term problems in finding suitable accommodation.

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