Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units submits report to CE (with photos)

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The Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong, being the Head of the Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units, along with the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, being the Deputy Head, and the Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing, Miss Rosanna Law, being a member of the Task Force, submitted today (August 22) the Task Force's report to the Chief Executive (CE), presenting findings of the in-depth study conducted over the past 10 months with detailed recommendations for the comprehensive and orderly handling of the issue of substandard subdivided units (SDUs).

After listening to the Task Force's presentation and reviewing the report, the CE has provided to the Task Force relevant views received from the consultation for the Policy Address and requested that the Task Force incorporate them into the study, as well as put forward new elements for the Task Force's consideration. The CE has instructed the Task Force to submit further study findings in a month's time for his comprehensive consideration, and the announcement of relevant decisions will be made in due course.

Over the past 10 months, the Task Force conducted in-depth discussions on SDU-related issues, which covered strengthening the existing enforcement actions in relation to the safety of SDUs, setting minimum standards of living conditions for SDUs (including the unit's floor area, headroom, lighting, ventilation, and facilities), and means for eradicating substandard SDUs, and formulated detailed recommendations. During the same period, the consultant commissioned by the Task Force visited different types of SDU households across the territory to collect relevant data in order to assist the Task Force in understanding the actual situation of the existing SDUs and relevant households. The Task Force also convened more than 20 stakeholder engagement sessions to gather views from political parties, academics, professional bodies, non-governmental organisations, and SDU concern groups, with a view to building a consensus among different sectors of the community. At the same time, the Task Force received over 40 written views/submissions on tackling the SDU issue.

Mr Wong said, "The Government has long been paying attention to the housing needs of those who are inadequately housed, and striving to identify land for housing development to increase the overall supply of public and private housing. The Government has identified sufficient land to meet the supply target of 308 000 public housing units in the next 10 years, making it an opportune time to tackle the long-standing issue of SDUs."

Mr Wong added, "I am thankful for the many valuable suggestions received from different sectors of the community over the past 10 months. The Task Force will submit further study findings in a month's time in accordance with the CE's instructions."

The CE announced in the Policy Address in October 2023 the establishment of the Task Force for conducting an in-depth study on the comprehensive handling of the issue of SDUs, and making recommendations along the following directions in 10 months' time: setting minimum standards for living conditions for SDUs in terms of their building safety, fire safety and hygiene requirements, and living space; suggesting measures to eradicate substandard SDUs; preventing the resurgence of substandard SDUs; and putting forward solutions to address the problem in an orderly manner, covering necessary administrative and legislative proposals.

Ends/Thursday, August 22, 2024
Issued at HKT 17:55

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The Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong (third left), being the Head of the Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units, along with the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho (second left), being the Deputy Head, and the Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing, Miss Rosanna Law (first left), being a member of the Task Force, submitted today (August 22) the Task Force's report to the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee (third right), presenting findings of the in-depth study conducted over the past 10 months with detailed recommendations for the comprehensive and orderly handling of the issue of substandard subdivided units. The Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip (second right), and the Private Secretary to the Chief Executive, Mrs Vicki Kwok (first right), are also present.

The Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong (centre), being the Head of the Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units, along with the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho (left), being the Deputy Head, submitted today (August 22) the Task Force's report to the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee (right), presenting findings of the in-depth study conducted over the past 10 months with detailed recommendations for the comprehensive and orderly handling of the issue of substandard subdivided units.