History of Public Housing Development in Hong Kong
[Image source: Hong Kong Housing Authority]
The development of public housing in Hong Kong can be traced back to the 1960s. In 1967, the landmark Wah Fu Estate was completed, becoming Hong Kong's first public housing estate designed with the concept of "comprehensive planning." Wah Fu Estate provided not only residential units but also comprehensive community facilities, including shops, markets, and schools, laying an important foundation for future public housing development in Hong Kong. By the end of 1967, public housing residents in Hong Kong reached approximately 1.2 million people, about one-third of Hong Kong's total population at the time (Hong Kong Housing Authority Annual Report 1967-1968).
Entering the 1970s, the Hong Kong government introduced several important housing policies. In 1972, when the government announced the implementation of the "Ten-Year Housing Programme," about 1.5 million people lived in public housing (Hong Kong Annual Report 1972). The government promised to build numerous low-cost rental units between 1973 and 1982, each equipped with independent kitchens and toilets. To more effectively manage public housing, the government restructured in 1973 to establish the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA), which unified the management of resettlement buildings and low-cost rental estates across Hong Kong. By the end of 1979, public housing residents had increased to about 1.8 million people (Hong Kong Annual Report 1979).
1978 marked another important turning point in Hong Kong's housing policy. The government launched the "Home Ownership Scheme" (HOS) to help middle and low-income families and public housing tenants realize their dream of home ownership. By 1981, public housing residents reached 2.2 million people (Hong Kong Housing Authority Annual Report 1981-1982). By the late 1980s, public housing residents increased to about 2.8 million people, and by the end of 1989, the Home Ownership Scheme had helped approximately 220,000 families become homeowners (Hong Kong Housing Authority Annual Report 1989-1990).
Entering the 1990s, housing policy focused on reasonable resource allocation. In 1995, public housing residents numbered about 3.2 million (Hong Kong Housing Authority Annual Report 1995-1996). In 1996, the "Policy on Safeguarding Rational Allocation of Public Housing Resources" was implemented, and in 1998, the "Tenants Purchase Scheme" was launched, selling about 220,000 units in 1998-1999. By the end of 1999, approximately 3.4 million people lived in public housing, accounting for about 52% of Hong Kong's population (Hong Kong Housing Authority Annual Report 1999-2000).
In the early 2000s, the Housing Authority began outsourcing estate management and maintenance work. By 2005, about 3.2 million people lived in public housing, with approximately 2 million in rental public housing and 1.2 million in subsidized sale flats (Hong Kong Housing Authority Statistics 2005, 2009). In 2005, the Housing Authority sold 180 retail and parking facilities under its jurisdiction to the Link Real Estate Investment Trust.
The last batch of old public housing units at Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate has been demolished, marking the completion of the "Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme."
[Image source: Hong Kong Housing Authority]
In the 2010s, the government reintroduced the Home Ownership Scheme and began rebuilding Pak Tin Estate. By 2015, public rental housing residents numbered about 2 million, while subsidized sale flat residents reached approximately 930,000 (Hong Kong Housing Authority Annual Report 2015-2016). During this period, various improvement measures were implemented, such as replacing folding gates and adding clothing racks, while introducing the "Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme" and "White Form Secondary Market Scheme." The early 2020s brought new challenges to public housing management with the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 2023, approximately 2.03 million people lived in public rental housing, and about 930,000 resided in subsidized sale flats, together accounting for about 40% of Hong Kong's total population (Hong Kong Housing Authority Housing Statistics 2023). As the Housing Authority celebrated its 50th anniversary, the government set goals to "increase quantity, speed, efficiency, and quality," committed to increasing public housing supply.
The development of Hong Kong's public housing reflects the government's determination to address citizens' housing needs. From initially providing basic accommodation for 1.2 million people to today's comprehensive community facilities serving nearly 3 million people, Hong Kong's public housing has not only improved the living environment for millions of citizens but also made significant contributions to building a harmonious society.