Minister: Rent Control Study 'would Take Years'

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong says rent control would not be a short-term fix for Hong Kong's costly private-sector housing as even a study on implementing such a measure would take at least three to four years.

The debate about rent control, which would limit the ability of landlords to raise rents when tenancies come up for renewal, has been revived this week after Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced a one-off rent subsidy for low-income tenants in her policy address.

Lam also hinted in a Facebook chat on Thursday at a wider study of measures to alleviate the cost of housing, which could include rent controls.

But speaking during a radio programme on Saturday, Law said a study of rent control measures would take a long time as changes in the law would be required.

He said rent controls could lead to a reduction in the supply of private flats, while landlords may be discouraged from spending money on repairs. He said a study would therefore have to look at legislation, as well as the tax on vacant homes and mandatory building inspection measures.