Owners of 14 subsidised flats seek grace period for subdivided unit regulations
Housing minister reveals applications for exemption as concerns grow over misuse of public resources
Quick Look
- The owners of 14 government-subsidised flats in Hong Kong have requested a grace period to comply with new subdivided home regulations.
- Housing Secretary Winnie Ho confirmed the applications, sparking debate over the misuse of social welfare housing for profit.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The government is implementing a new regulatory regime for subdivided homes in Hong Kong. Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme flats are intended for social welfare rather than commercial rental use.
The owners of 14 subsidised sale flats have applied for a grace period to comply with Hong Kong’s new regulatory regime for subdivided homes, the housing minister has revealed, raising concerns that public resources were being abused.
The cases were disclosed on Monday at a Legislative Council housing panel meeting when lawmaker Mark Chong Ho-fung asked Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin about the use of subsidised sale flats as subdivided units for renting.
Chong said flats sold under the government-subsidised Home Ownership Scheme were deemed a form of social welfare and should not be used for profiteering.
Ho said that it was against the law for an owner to lease a subsidised sale flat without having paid the premium.
Open Questions
- Will the government grant the requested grace periods?
- What penalties will the owners face if applications are denied?
