Report on subdivided units submitted

The Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units today submitted a report to the Chief Executive, following an in-depth study conducted over the past 10 months.

Along with the study’s findings, the report makes detailed recommendations.

As head of the task force, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong elaborated on its proposals for the comprehensive and orderly handling of the issue of substandard subdivided units (SDUs).

He was joined by the task force’s deputy head, Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho, and another of the group’s members, Permanent Secretary for Housing/Director of Housing Rosanna Law.

After listening to the task force’s presentation and reviewing its report, the Chief Executive iterated the views gathered on the subject during his Policy Address consultation, and requested that they be incorporated into the study.

He also put forward new elements for the task force’s consideration and instructed it to submit further findings for his consideration in a month’s time, adding that an announcement on related decisions will be made in due course.

The task force conducted in-depth discussions on SDU-related issues and formulated its recommendations over the course of 10 months.

Key issues involve strengthening existing enforcement actions in relation to SDU safety, setting minimum standards with regard to living conditions in SDUs, and establishing means to eradicate substandard units.

In the course of the study, a consultant commissioned by the task force visited different types of SDU households across the city to collect data and allow the task force to understand the actual situation of SDUs and SDU 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.

Meanwhile, it received over 40 written views or submissions on tackling the issue.

Mr Wong emphasised that the Government has long been attentive to the needs of those who are inadequately housed.

“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.”

He added that the task force will submit further findings in a month’s time, in accordance with the Chief Executive’s instructions.

The Chief Executive announced the establishment of the task force in his Policy Address last October.