HONG KONG 2004 - Housing


	Introduction

	Housing Policy

	Institutional Framework

	Public Rental Housing

	Divestment of Commercial Properties

	Home Ownership

	Housing for Groups in Special Need

	Housing Supply

	Private Sector Housing

	Home Pages

Housing Policy

The 2002 Statement on Housing Policy delivered by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands set out three major guiding principles of the Government's housing policy:

•	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;
•	The Government should minimise its intervention in the private property market; and
•	The Government should maintain a fair and stable operating environment for the private property market by ensuring adequate land supply and provision of an efficient supporting infrastructure.

Since the Government's announcement on the repositioning of its housing policy, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)² 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, terminated the Home Assistance Loan Scheme (HALS) and identified alternative uses for surplus subsidised sale flats.

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. It acts as the Government's agent for clearing land, preventing squatting and implementing improvements in squatter areas.