Make future shoebox homes bigger: SoCo

A community group has suggested that future housing units replacing subdivided homes should be larger than the minimum size proposed by the government. In his Policy Address in October, Chief Executive John Lee outlined plans to eradicate substandard subdivided units and introduce “basic housing units”. The government said each unit must be no less than 8 square metres, or 86 square feet, and have an individual toilet and at least one window. Sze Lai-shan, deputy director of the Society for Community Organisation (SoCo), said on Sunday officials should consider adding 5.5 square metres for each additional resident into the basic housing unit requirements, to ensure a suitable environment for families. "If no one cares how many members are in 8 square metres, then it could be three or four people in 8 square metres. That would be too small and too inhumane for them," Sze said. "With reference with the standard of public housing, if they are overcrowded, the living space for each person is 5.5 to 7 square metres, they would need to be rehoused to better places by the government." SoCo also suggested the government put together a timetable for legislation. And while officials have made it clear that those affected by the phasing out of substandard subdivided units would be rehoused, some residents remained jittery. A tenant surnamed Wong, whose unit is regarded as substandard and will be regulated under the new legislation, said he is unsure what will happen next. "I only hope for the government to be able to make plans on rehousing arrangements for us. I am happy as long as the rent is not higher than what I am paying now, which is HK$2,890," he said. A cage home tenant, surnamed Fong, who lives in a flat that features 35 bedspaces, called on the government to build more public housing. "I am now paying a monthly rent of HK$2,700. The Policy Address did not mention cage homes. “The government should speed up rehousing us, and build more public housing for us lower-class people," he said. SoCo also said the government could provide rent or relocation subsidy for residents.