Most owners seek Basic Housing Unit compliance

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho announced on Saturday that the majority of owners of subdivided units have applied for recognition under the Basic Housing Unit regime since registration began in March. During an appearance on a Commercial Radio programme, Ho expressed that the response was more positive than she had anticipated, as she had initially assumed most homeowners would wait until the end of the 12-month grace-period registration window to submit their applications.

"If we consider nearly 110,000 subdivided units as the benchmark, we have already received 73,800 applications, which is close to 70 percent," she stated. "We hope that all homeowners will register, regardless of whether they plan to continue operating in the future. Please register first." Ho emphasized that owners who registered within the 12-month grace period have an additional 36 months to fulfill the requirements for a basic housing unit, which encompass a minimum size of eight square metres, individual toilets, and windows.

To date, 42 units have already been granted recognition. Regarding the city's housing supply forecast over the next decade, Ho highlighted the Northern Metropolis as a key player, predicting it could account for approximately 40 percent of the total figure. She explained that the mega project in the Northern Metropolis could construct over 5,000 flats per plot of land, thanks to the relaxed regulations that allow for higher densities at lower costs compared to urban areas, where land levelling is more complex.