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The Statement on Housing Policy delivered by the Secretary for Housing,
Planning and Lands on November 13, 2002 set out three major guiding principles
of the Government's housing policy. Firstly, the focus of the Government's
subsidised housing policy should be on the provision of assistance to
low-income families who cannot afford private rental accommodation. Secondly,
the Government should minimise its intervention in the private property
market. Thirdly, the Government should maintain a fair and stable operating
environment for the private property market by ensuring adequate land
supply and provision of efficient supporting infrastructure.
Since the Government's announcement on the repositioning
of its housing policy, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)2
has realigned its activities with the new policy agenda and priorities
to focus on the provision of public rental housing. It has ceased the
sale and construction of the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) flats, initiated
studies on the disposal arrangements for the surplus subsidised sale flats,
undertaken to review the Home Assistance Loan Scheme (HALS) and put in
place a concrete action plan for divesting its retail and car parking
facilities.
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The HKHA, established in 1973, is a statutory body
responsible for implementing the majority of Hong Kong's public
housing programmes. It plans and builds public housing for renting
to low-income people. It manages public rental housing estates,
interim housing, transit centres, flatted factories and ancillary
commercial and community facilities. |
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