The passage of new
legislation targeting the notoriously shameful subdivided flats marks an important step in outlawing substandard living spaces in Hong Kong. It also signals the beginning of an even more challenging stage to get the registration scheme in place. The government must ensure the rules can be effectively enforced and that the housing conundrum that gives our affluent city such a bad name can be truly resolved.
The law requires all subdivided flats to meet new standards to be qualified as “basic housing units”, including a minimum size of 86 sq ft, a ceiling height of 2.3 metres (7.5 feet), proper windows and at least one toilet per unit. Landlords shall register their properties with the authorities within 12 months starting from March next year, with a 36-month grace period up to February 2030 for compliance. The standards and the pace for change still leave a lot to be desired; but the approach is a welcome breakthrough.
Many of the roughly 220,000 low-income tenants may well be unaware of the looming impact on their residence and the future property market. Concerns about rent hikes and mass displacement are growing, as fewer flats may become available and landlords could
pass on the cost of conversion. It is estimated that
up to 30 per cent of the existing 110,000 units would need upgrading or risk being outlawed. Enforcement in a gradual and orderly manner is essential so no residents are left homeless.
More than four years have passed since Beijing implored Hong Kong to “
bid farewell” to its subdivided housing by 2049. A turning point came two years ago when Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu set up a
task force to tackle the problem.
Instead of a total ban, the city has opted for a licensing regime, allowing units that meet the minimum requirements to continue operating. Punishment for non-compliance will not come until 2030.
The problems with these overcrowded, unhygienic and fire-prone urban dwellings are well known. Whether they continue to make the headlines for the wrong reasons remains to be seen. This is not the first attempt at bringing the problem under some statutory control. A landmark rental law was introduced in 2022 to rein in abuses, but
lax enforcement rendered it largely toothless.
