No More Little Boxes? Hong Kong Re-Thinks Its Housing Responsibility

By
staff
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balconies on the left border of the picture with a silohette of a face in profile on the right.
Hong Kong People's Council on Housing Policy logo photo by Kong People’s Council on Housing Policy is licensed under the Public Domain
Logo of the Hong Kong People's Council on Housing Policy. The Council held hearings in 2023. This year, the government of Hong Kong announced changes to its housing policies. The new policies might be an outcome of the hearings, but if they are, the Hong Kong Free Press isn't saying.

In an annual race to the housing bottom, Canada generally (and Vancouver B.C specifically) has been anointed as proud losers. That’s in world-wide competitions for cities demonstrating the least bang for the housing buck.

Vancouver has been the second or third worst on a regular basis. Could Vancouver actually drop to ‘worst in the world’ status? Events in the Far East are making that a real possibility.

Hong Kong is infamous for its impossibly cramped housing, and regularly ranks as the most unaffordable. However, Hong Kong has announced it is changing its spots.

The United Kingdom’s lease on the territories occupied by Hong Kong ran out in 1997. The lands were returned to the Republic of China. Under that country’s guidance, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee has announced changes in the City’s housing policies.

Read more in the Hong Kong Free Press: HK Policy Address 2024: Hong Kong to phase out subdivided units under 8 sq. metres, but ‘coffin homes’ to stay