Chapter 12 HOUSING

HOUSING in Hong Kong has undergone major changes over the past two decades. More than 1.3 million public and private flats have been built. Public rental housing now accommodates about 2.3 million people (34 per cent of the population) compared with 1.7 million in 1975. Since 1978, the government has built more than 260 000 subsidised flats for sale under various home ownership schemes. The joint efforts of the government and the private sector have lifted the overall home ownership rate to 52 per cent, compared with 33 per cent 17 years ago. In 1998, the public sector produced about 35 000 flats, of which about 21 000 were for sale, and the private sector produced 22 000 flats.

      Hong Kong now has some 2 026 000 flats and houses; 1 066 000 in the private sector and 960 000 in the public sector.