The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) is the main provider of public housing in Hong Kong. It was established in April 1973 under the Housing Ordinance and is an agency of the Government of Hong Kong. In the same year, the Resettlement Department and the Building Section of the Urban Services Department were merged to form the Housing Department, which acts as the Housing Authority's executive body.[1]
In 2005, most Housing Authority-owned shopping centres and car parks were controversially divested to The Link REIT.
A citywide scandal erupted in 2015 after heavy metals were found in the water supply of some housing estates, schools, and private residential buildings. The contamination was first identified at Kai Ching Estate, opened in 2013. A task force found that the contamination was caused by solder joints with high lead content.[2]
Responsibilities
Outside of public housing provision, the authority is also responsible for the management of public rental housing estates, interim housing estates, transit centres, demolished factories and ancillary commercial and non-domestic facilities such as shopping centres, market stalls and car parks. It also acts as the agent for the government when it comes to clearing land, and according to its own policy "preventing squatting and implementing improvements in squatter areas."[3]
Though most commercial assets of the Housing Authority were divested to the Link REIT in 2005, the Housing Authority still manages some shopping centres as well as 21 markets.[4] There have been calls for the government to buy back the properties sold to the Link as rent increases have placed a financial burden on public housing residents.[4]
Composition
At the time of its creation, membership of the authority was made up as follows:[5]
Secretary of Housing (Chairman)
Eight Urban Councillors
Five unofficial members
Six official members
Currently, members are appointed by the Chief executive of Hong Kong. They are: the chairman, Vice-chairman, two official members and 26 non-official members.[when?][3]
Roles
The Authority operates the Tenants Purchase Scheme, the Home Ownership Scheme and the Private Sector Participation Scheme. They were also formerly responsible for a loan scheme targeted at low-income home buyers, which provided interest-free loans of up to HK$530,000 or monthly mortgage subsidies of up to HK$3,800 to help low-income individuals or families buy their own flats.
More than 8,000 low-income families are subsidised, although the scheme was halted in 2003 pending a review. In June 2004, the definitive abolition of the scheme was announced.[6]
In 2019, the 4,871 flats from six estates was largest number of subsidised homes put on the market since the Home Ownership Scheme was restarted in 2011; But only 54 of 80 randomly selected buyers turned up – a low turnout rate that would have been unheard of in the past.[7]
Key people
Since 1 July 2007, following a reorganisation of government agencies, the role of Chairman of the Housing Authority is held by the Secretary for Transport and Housing (a position created in 2007). This role was previously held by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands.[8] The Director of Housing is Vice-chairman of the HA.[3] Past and present Chairpersons of the Hong Kong Housing Authority have included:
^chan, ho him (9 December 2019). "Hong Kong homebuyers scramble for new batch of subsidised flats – with HK$5.29 million home snapped up in 30 minutes". scmp. scmp. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
^Press release: "STH Appointed as Housing Authority Chairman", June 2007
Yeung, Y. M.; Wong, Timothy K. Y., eds. (2003). Fifty Years of Public Housing in Hong Kong: A Golden Jubilee Review and Appraisal. Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hong Kong Housing Authority.
Official website
July 07, 2023
hong, kong, housing, authority, main, provider, public, housing, hong, kong, established, april, 1973, under, housing, ordinance, agency, government, hong, kong, same, year, resettlement, department, building, section, urban, services, department, were, merged. The Hong Kong Housing Authority HA is the main provider of public housing in Hong Kong It was established in April 1973 under the Housing Ordinance and is an agency of the Government of Hong Kong In the same year the Resettlement Department and the Building Section of the Urban Services Department were merged to form the Housing Department which acts as the Housing Authority s executive body 1 Hong Kong Housing Authority香港房屋委員會Agency overviewFormedApril 1973 50 years ago 1973 04 Headquarters33 Fat Kwong Street Ho Man TinAgency executiveEva Cheng ChairwomanWebsitehousingauthority gov hkHong Kong Housing AuthorityTraditional Chinese香港房屋委員會Simplified Chinese香港房屋委员会TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinXianggǎng Fangwu WeiyuanhuiWade GilesHsiang1 kang3 Fang2 wu1 Wei3yuan2hui4IPA ɕja ŋ ka ŋ fa n u we ɪ ɥɛ n xwe ɪ Yue CantoneseYale RomanizationHeung gong fohng uk wai yuhn wuiJyutpingHoeng1 gong2 fong4 uk1 wai2 jyun4 wui2IPA hœːŋ kɔːŋ fɔːŋ ok wɐi jyːn wuːy Contents 1 History 2 Responsibilities 3 Composition 4 Roles 5 Key people 6 Location 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksHistory EditThe modern Housing Authority was founded in 1973 In 2005 most Housing Authority owned shopping centres and car parks were controversially divested to The Link REIT A citywide scandal erupted in 2015 after heavy metals were found in the water supply of some housing estates schools and private residential buildings The contamination was first identified at Kai Ching Estate opened in 2013 A task force found that the contamination was caused by solder joints with high lead content 2 Responsibilities EditOutside of public housing provision the authority is also responsible for the management of public rental housing estates interim housing estates transit centres demolished factories and ancillary commercial and non domestic facilities such as shopping centres market stalls and car parks It also acts as the agent for the government when it comes to clearing land and according to its own policy preventing squatting and implementing improvements in squatter areas 3 Though most commercial assets of the Housing Authority were divested to the Link REIT in 2005 the Housing Authority still manages some shopping centres as well as 21 markets 4 There have been calls for the government to buy back the properties sold to the Link as rent increases have placed a financial burden on public housing residents 4 Composition EditAt the time of its creation membership of the authority was made up as follows 5 Secretary of Housing Chairman Eight Urban Councillors Five unofficial members Six official membersCurrently members are appointed by the Chief executive of Hong Kong They are the chairman Vice chairman two official members and 26 non official members when 3 Roles EditThe Authority operates the Tenants Purchase Scheme the Home Ownership Scheme and the Private Sector Participation Scheme They were also formerly responsible for a loan scheme targeted at low income home buyers which provided interest free loans of up to HK 530 000 or monthly mortgage subsidies of up to HK 3 800 to help low income individuals or families buy their own flats More than 8 000 low income families are subsidised although the scheme was halted in 2003 pending a review In June 2004 the definitive abolition of the scheme was announced 6 In 2019 the 4 871 flats from six estates was largest number of subsidised homes put on the market since the Home Ownership Scheme was restarted in 2011 But only 54 of 80 randomly selected buyers turned up a low turnout rate that would have been unheard of in the past 7 Key people EditSince 1 July 2007 following a reorganisation of government agencies the role of Chairman of the Housing Authority is held by the Secretary for Transport and Housing a position created in 2007 This role was previously held by the Secretary for Housing Planning and Lands 8 The Director of Housing is Vice chairman of the HA 3 Past and present Chairpersons of the Hong Kong Housing Authority have included Eva Cheng 2017 present 2nd term Anthony Cheung 2012 2017 Eva Cheng 2007 2012 1st term Michael Suen 2002 2007 Dr Cheng Hon kwan 2000 2002 Dame Dr Rosanna Wong Yick ming 1992 2000 Sir David Akers Jones 1987 1992Location EditThe Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters are located at 33 Fat Kwong Street Ho Man Tin Kowloon The Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Centre is located nearby at 3 F Homantin Plaza 80 Fat Kwong Street See also EditPublic housing in Hong Kong Hong Kong Housing Society The Link REIT List of public housing estates in Hong Kong List of Home Ownership Scheme Courts in Hong Kong My Home Purchase Plan Public factory estates in Hong KongReferences Edit Memories of Home 50 Years of Public Housing in Hong Kong PDF Archived from the original PDF on 18 February 2011 Retrieved 4 January 2014 Explainer How the water lead contamination scare became a citywide concern 13 July 2015 a b c Hong Kong Housing Authority About Us page a b LCQ3 Management of retail facilities in public housing estates Legislative Council 16 March 2016 Hung Edward 26 June 1977 New Housing Authority in for bigger responsibility PDF The Standard Archived from the original PDF on 10 April 2008 Retrieved 27 April 2007 25 000 HA flats up for sale but no more loans Archived 22 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine The Standard 3 June 2004 chan ho him 9 December 2019 Hong Kong homebuyers scramble for new batch of subsidised flats with HK 5 29 million home snapped up in 30 minutes scmp scmp Retrieved 11 December 2019 Press release STH Appointed as Housing Authority Chairman June 2007Further reading EditSmart Alan 1 June 2006 The Shek Kip Mei Myth Squatters Fires and Colonial Rule in Hong Kong 1950 1963 PDF Hong Kong University Press ISBN 9789622097926 Yeung Y M Wong Timothy K Y eds 2003 Fifty Years of Public Housing in Hong Kong A Golden Jubilee Review and Appraisal Hong Kong The Chinese University Press External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hong Kong Housing Authority Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hong Kong Housing Authority amp oldid 1130262270, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
