Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin (left) and Project Manager of the Architectural Services Department Edward Wong introduce the new Light Public Housing (LPH) projects to the media, in Hong Kong, Jan 30, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – The Housing Bureau on Monday announced four more sites for Light Public Housing (LPH) projects to help address the city’s public housing shortage, including one in Kai Tak that will provide over 10,000 LPH units.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said the new sites include Kai Tak Olympic Avenue, Ngau Tau Kok Choi Hing Road, Chai Wan Sheung On Street/Sheung Ping Street and Siu Lam Lok On Pai, according to a government statement.
Ho said that the government intended to construct 30,000 LPH units in the coming five years to fill the short-term gap in public housing supply as soon as possible and to improve the living conditions and quality for people living in inadequate housing.
Under Secretary for Housing Victor Tai Sheung-shing visits the new Light Public Housing (LPH) site at Olympic Avenue in Kai Tak, on Jan 30, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
If compared to the similar design of transitional housing, the average unit cost of a low-rise LPH block (around three storeys) is about HK$530,000 in money-of-the-day prices, which is similar to the HK$550,000 subsidy for each transitional housing unit
LPH units will mainly cater to housing applicants who have been on the waiting list for traditional public rental housing for three years or more, with priority given to family applicants. It is estimated that the first batch of around 2,100 units can be completed in 2024-25 earliest, Ho said.
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The remaining units will be completed by phases in 2025-26 and 2026-27 and about half of the LPH units will be in urban areas.
If compared to the similar design of transitional housing, the average unit cost of a low-rise LPH block (around three storeys) is about HK$530,000 ($67,629) in money-of-the-day prices, which is similar to the HK$550,000 subsidy for each transitional housing unit.
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The average gross floor area of an LPH unit in a low-rise block will be about 20 percent bigger than that of transitional housing. The internal floor area of LPH units ranges from about 13 to 31 square meters.
A general view of a sample unit of the new Light Public Housing (LPH) projects, in Hong Kong, Jan 30, 2023. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)
For high-rise LPH blocks (around 17 to 19 storeys), since additional foundation works, structural strengthening works and more electrical and mechanical facilities are required, the average unit cost of a high-rise LPH block is about HK$650,000.
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Open spaces will be reserved at the LPH estates for leisure and events, and to facilitate mutual assistance among residents.
The government earlier announced the initial four sites for LPH projects: Tuen Mun Area 3A, Tuen Mun Area 54, Yuen Long Yau Pok Road and Sheung Shui Lin Tong Mei.