Hong Kong Housing Authority
Encyclopedia
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA; ) is the main provider of public housing
in Hong Kong
. It was established in 1973 under the Housing Ordinance and is an agency
of the Government of Hong Kong
. In the same year, the Resettlement Department and the Building Section of the Urban Services Department
were merged to form the Housing Department
, which acts as the Housing Authority's executive body.
The current members are appointed by the Chief Executive
. They are: the Chairman, the Vice-chairman, 2 official members, 26 non-official members.
, the Home Ownership Scheme
and the Private Sector Participation Scheme.
The Authority it operated a loan scheme for low income home buyers, which provided interest-free loans of up to HK$530,000 or monthly mortgage subsidies of up to HK$3,800 to help low-income individuals or families to buy their own flats.
More than 8,000 low-income families are subsidised, although the scheme was halted in 2003 pending a review. In June 2004, the definitive scrapping of the scheme was announced.
(a position created in 2007). This role was previously assumed by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands
. The Director of Housing is Vice-chairman of the HA.
Chairpersons of the Hong Kong Housing Authority have included:
, Kowloon
. The Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Centre
is located nearby at 3/F, Homantin Plaza, 80 Fat Kwong Street.
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It was established in 1973 under the Housing Ordinance and is an agency
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
of the Government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
. In the same year, the Resettlement Department and the Building Section of the Urban Services Department
Urban Services Department
Urban Services Department was a government department in Hong Kong. It carried out the policies and managed the facilities of the former Urban Council.After being abolished with the Urban Council in 1999, its functions were inherited by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Leisure...
were merged to form the Housing Department
Housing Department
Housing Department is a department of Hong Kong Government, managing public housing estates that were built by Hong Kong Housing Authority in Hong Kong. It reports to the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, which is headed by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands.-See also:* Hong Kong...
, which acts as the Housing Authority's executive body.
Responsibilities
Aside of public housing, HA is responsible for the management of public rental housing estates, interim housing estates, transit centers, flatted factories and ancillary commercial and non-domestic facilities such as shopping centers, market stalls and carparks. It also acts as the agent for the government when it comes to clearing land, as according to its own words "preventing squatting and implementing improvements in squatter areas."Composition
At the time of the creation, members of the HKHA were as follows:- Secretary of Housing (Chairman)
- 8 Urban Councillors
- 5 Unofficial members
- 6 Official members
The current members are appointed by the Chief Executive
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
. They are: the Chairman, the Vice-chairman, 2 official members, 26 non-official members.
Roles
The Authority operates the Tenants Purchase SchemeTenants Purchase Scheme
Tenants Purchase Scheme is a scheme which allows tenants in public housing estates under Hong Kong Housing Authority to purchase their flats...
, the Home Ownership Scheme
Home Ownership Scheme
The Home Ownership Scheme is a subsidized-sale programme of public housing in Hong Kong managed by the Hong Kong Housing Authority...
and the Private Sector Participation Scheme.
The Authority it operated a loan scheme for low income home buyers, which provided interest-free loans of up to HK$530,000 or monthly mortgage subsidies of up to HK$3,800 to help low-income individuals or families to buy their own flats.
More than 8,000 low-income families are subsidised, although the scheme was halted in 2003 pending a review. In June 2004, the definitive scrapping of the scheme was announced.
Key people
Since July 1, 2007, following a reorganization of Government agencies, the role of Chairman of the HA is assumed by the Secretary for Transport and HousingSecretary for Transport and Housing
The Secretary for Transport and Housing is responsible for transport and housing related issues. The position was created in 2007 to replace the previous positions of Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works and Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands.-External links:**...
(a position created in 2007). This role was previously assumed by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands
Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands
The Hong Kong Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands was the head of the Housing, Planning and Lands Bureau, which was responsible for urban planning policy, public housing and the management and selling of public lands...
. The Director of Housing is Vice-chairman of the HA.
Chairpersons of the Hong Kong Housing Authority have included:
- Eva ChengEva ChengEva Cheng Yu-wah, JP is the Secretary for Transport and Housing and the chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Authority in the Hong Kong Government...
2007 - present - Michael SuenMichael SuenMichael Suen Ming-yeung GBS CBE JP is currently the Secretary for Education of Hong Kong.-Education:Suen attended Wah Yan College, Hong Kong, a male-only Jesuit school in Hong Kong.-Career:...
2003-2007 - Dr Cheng Hon-kwan
- Rosanna Wong Yick-mingRosanna Wong Yick-mingDame Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, DBE, JP , also known by her married name Mrs Rosanna Tam Wong Yick-ming in her former marriage from 1979 lasting until 1992, and primarily known as Dr Rosanna Wong in public occasions after 1997, is a Hong Kong social work administrator and politician who has served as...
: 1993–2000 - David Akers-JonesDavid Akers-JonesSir David Akers-Jones, KBE, CMG, GBM, JP was the Chief Secretary of Hong Kong from 1985 to 1987, and was briefly Acting Governor of Hong Kong.-Biography:...
: 1987-1992
Location
The Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters are located at 33 Fat Kwong Street, Ho Man TinHo Man Tin
Ho Man Tin is a mostly residential area in Kowloon, Hong Kong, part of the Kowloon City District.-History:The original area of Ho Man Tin was quite different from the present-day one. It was located in the heart of nowaday Mong Kok. With cultivated lands,...
, Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
. The Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Centre
Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Centre
The Hong Kong Housing Authority Exhibition Centre is managed by Hong Kong Housing Authority. It is located on 3/F, Homantin Plaza, 80 Fat Kwong Street, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon in Hong Kong.The Opening Ceremony of the Centre was held in July, 2002.-Exhibition:...
is located nearby at 3/F, Homantin Plaza, 80 Fat Kwong Street.
See also
- Public housing in Hong KongPublic housing in Hong KongPublic 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 of the population now residing in some form of public housing...
- Hong Kong Housing SocietyHong Kong Housing SocietyThe Hong Kong Housing Society or Housing Society for short, is the second largest public housing provider in Hong Kong . The HKHS is a non-governmental organization and non profit organization that was founded in 1948 by "members coming from all walks of life" with a donation of £14,000...
- The Link REITThe Link REITThe Link REIT is one of the world's largest REITs, or real estate investment trusts with assets of around US$3.3 billion....
- List of public housing estates in Hong Kong
- List of Home Ownership Scheme Courts in Hong Kong
- My Home Purchase PlanMy Home Purchase PlanMy Home Purchase Plan is one of the public housing initiatives of Hong Kong. This plan enables eligible citizens to purchase homes by way of "rent-and-buy". The Plan aims to provide assistance to potential sandwich class home buyers who are able to repay mortgages in the long term but currently do...