Public Housing Urgency: Hong Kong's Housing Chief Appeals to Elderly Residents

Public Housing Initiatives in Hong Kong

Public housing has taken center stage in Hong Kong as Housing Chief Rosanna Law Shuk-pui urges elderly residents to report their living situations accurately. This fresh wave of mandatory reporting targets about 120,000 households, all members aged 60 and over, aiming to curb abuse of government resources.

The Reporting Process

The current reporting round commenced this month, providing a two-month window for residents to submit necessary documents. Law highlighted the simplicity of the form, allowing residents to report continuous living without detailed ownership disclosures.

• This continuous residency is defined as three consecutive months.
• Short absences due to legitimate reasons will not immediately disqualify residents.

Law reassured residents considering care institutions that they could voluntarily give up their homes, ensuring future public housing options if they chose to move back.

Aim to Prevent Misuse

Launched in October last year, the reporting mechanism aims to prevent public housing misuse, such as subletting flats or leaving them vacant. This initiative is part of a broader approach to uphold the integrity of housing programs in Hong Kong.

In previous reporting rounds, asset checks were mandated for non-elderly households and affluent tenants under Housing Authority policies. Since the start of the fiscal year, over 6,300 public housing flats have been recovered through these diligence efforts.