This April 11, 2023 photo shows a general view of residential buildings in West Kowloon District, Hong Kong. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The Housing Bureau of Hong Kong has adjusted the eligibility criteria for Category A tenants of its transitional housing projects with effect from Friday to promote fertility and create an environment that supports childbearing.

Under the adjusted policy, families with children born on or after Oct 25 are now eligible to become Category A tenants if they have been waiting for traditional public rental housing for two years, the bureau said in a statement.

Households waiting for traditional PRH for less than three years are considered Category B tenants of transitional housing.

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The existing three-year eligibility requirement remains unchanged for other households, the statement added.

Families with newborns are required to submit an application before their child’s first birthday. 

Organizations operating transitional housing should allocate no less than 80 percent of the units in any project to Category A tenants.

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The bureau said organizations may formulate detailed criteria targeting specific groups of applicants having regard to their service features and reserve not more than 20 percent of the units for other categories of applicants.

The Housing Bureau expects the measures would help families with newborns in need break away from the difficulties swiftly and have a better quality of life.