35 Hong Kong Families Evicted Since Subdivided Housing Law

Thirty-five families living in Hong Kong’s subdivided units have faced eviction in the two and a half months since the government rolled out a new regime to eradicate substandard shoebox homes, according to housing authorities.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin also said on Wednesday that another 40 subdivided flat households from Yee Wa Building in Sham Shui Po, who faced eviction last year, were still living in the block and were considering their future options.

The Basic Housing Units Ordinance took effect in March, allowing only “basic housing units” – certified subdivided units that comply with minimum requirements – to be leased legally in the market.

However, a number of eviction cases have been reported since the government proposed the regulation in 2024.

Since March, the housing authorities’ district service teams have received 35 cases from subdivided flat tenants, who were asked to vacate at short notice at different buildings, according to Ho.

The teams helped 10 cases apply for transitional housing - temporary homes operated by NGOs for families waiting for a public rental flat or who have urgent housing needs.