Subdivided Flat Residents May Get Upgrade Cash

The government is proposing a new HK$290-million programme to give residents of subdivided flats up to HK$10,000 per household to improve their living environment. The two-year scheme may be rolled out as early as the second quarter of next year.

In his weekly blog, welfare secretary Law Chi-kwong said around 24,000 low-income households living in subdivided flats stand to benefit from the new plan being explored by the Community Care Fund. If approved, people who live alone would be able to apply for as much as HK$8,500 dollars – while households with two or more people can get up to HK$10,000 – to pay for various things to improve their living environment. These could be anything from minor renovations or new furniture, to pest control services.

Law said the Hong Kong Council of Social Services and other NGOs may be brought on as partners to conduct home visits to vet applications, and figure out what items in a prescribed checklist is most suitable for them. Social workers would also help give residents information about other assistance programmes and community resources.

Law also says he believes this is a better alternative to rent relief, or electricity and water subsidies because these may end up benefitting landlords more than the residents, and work to artificially suppress the government’s poverty figures.

A Legco panel is scheduled to discuss the proposal on Monday.