Public housing in Hong Kong
HF: Public housing in Hong Kong is a set of mass housing programmes through which the Government of Hong Kong provides affordable housing for lower income residents. It is a major component of housing in Hong Kong, with nearly half the population now residing in some form of public housing. The public housing policy dates to 1954, after a fire in Shek Kip Mei destroyed thousands of shanty homes and prompted the government to begin constructing homes for the poor.
Shek Kip Mei after the fire Source: Gwulo
Public housing is mainly built by the Hong Kong Housing Authority and the Hong Kong Housing Society. Rents and prices are significantly lower than those for private housing and are heavily subsidised by the government, with revenues partially recovered from sources such as rents and charges collected from car parks and shops within or near the residences.
Kin Ming Estate, completed in 2003 in Tseung Kwan O, consists of 10 housing blocks, housing about 22,000 people. Source: Wikipedia
Many public housing estates are built in the new towns of the New Territories, but urban expansion has left some older estates deep in central urban areas. They are found in every district of Hong Kong except in Wanchai District. The vast majority of public housing are provided in high rise buildings, and recent blocks usually comprise of 40 or more storeys.
Mei Ho House. Shek Kip Mei Estate, built in the 1950s.
The government has in recent years begun to prioritise economic benefit rather than meeting the demand of citizens. This has led to many citizens who are unable to afford private housing to seek accomodation in subdivided flats and bedspace apartments. As at end of September 2020, there were about 156,400 general applications for PRH, and about 103,600 non elderly one person applications under the Quota and Points System.
Non-standard Lower Ngau Kok Estate Source: Hong Kong Housing Authority
Source: Wikipedia
This article was first posted on 3rd April 2026.