Hong Kong to phase out subdivided flats under eight square metres (but 'coffin homes’ remain)

Chief executive John Lee made the announcement today in a keynote speech. According to publicly available data, more than 100,000 housing units fall in this category, which will be gradually eliminated. But the legislation does not include overcrowded flats where thousands live due to Hong Kong’s housing crisis.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced that subdivided flats under eight square metres will be phased out. By contrast, “coffin homes", which were regulated and legalised thirty years ago, will not come under the new legislation.

In his third policy address, Mr Lee said that mini-flats will be referred to as "Basic Housing Units" (BHUs) and will have to include windows and a private bathroom.

Official data show that in 2021, Hong Kong had 108,200 subdivided flats. According to the NGO Society for Community Organisation, about 250,000 people live in these cramped spaces due to the rising costs of housing.

The construction of new partition walls often requires changing plumbing, creating situations that often compromise the hygiene and safety of the entire building.

Already last year, John Lee had expressed the desire to establish minimum standards on housing.

“Current SDUs differ significantly in their conditions regarding fire safety, ventilation, floor area, availability of individual kitchens and toilets and whether they are separated or combined, among others. As such, it is necessary to set minimum standards to eradicate inadequate SDUs,” Lee said today.

The new rules will consider "real demand," Lee noted. However, "coffin homes", also known as "cage homes", tiny spaces that usually only fit a bed, will not be taken into account by the new legislation and will continue to be classified as flats.

In such units, several rooms are converted to accommodate more people, each with one bed.

Current regulations, which date back to 1994, require units with more than 12 beds to obtain a special license, but most landlords circumvent the problem by keeping 11 beds.

A Home and Youth Affairs Bureau source told the Hong Kong Free Press that the government might revise the licensing requirements.

Several studies have shown that those living in coffin homes, which can cost up to 300 dollars a month, are mainly pensioners, working poor, low-income families, and drug addicts.

Hong Kong is home to more than seven million people and covers an area of 1,106 square kilometres and the median salary is about US$ 1,200 per month.

In the case of subdivided flats, owners will be given a grace period to upgrade them to the new standards if they register their homes, while "substandard” units could face criminal liability, Lee said.

The authorities will then reassign the units to those who are eligible but have not yet applied for public housing, “having regard to the market supply of Basic Housing Units," he explained.

• hong kong
• housing crisis
• coffin homes
• cage homes
• chief executive john lee