The Hong Kong Society for Community Organization and lawmakers have urged the special administrative region government to set strict standards in identifying and phasing out low-quality subdivided flats ahead of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s annual policy address next week.

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After visiting three households in sub-divided flats in Sham Shui Po District on Sunday, representatives of the organization and legislators said they hoped alternative apartments and allowances could be provided to those who have to be relocated.

The city’s crowded subdivided flats, which also lack basic facilities, have been highlighted in Lee's policy speeches in the past two years. The government set up a task force last year to tackle related problems and try to set minimum living standards with the aim of eradicating substandard apartments.

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The team of SoCo representatives and lawmakers went to three households living in different types of subdivided flats in Sham Shui Po to look into the problem and listen to the needs of tenants.

The organization came up with a list of proposals and set nine criteria for assessing the living conditions in subdivided flats, including their floor area, the number of tenants in each unit, ventilation, safety of buildings and rent levels, and suggested that any flat that fails to meet three of the nine standards should be branded as “low quality”.

If property owners cannot improve the living environment within six months, their units should not be rented out, the society said. It urged the government to provide alternative places to live for people who need to be relocated, including public housing units or other places where rents are paid for by the authorities.

The administration should also consider easing application requirements for units under the Light Public Housing program, as well as transitional housing, to reduce the demand for subdivided flats.

In the long term, the government has to comprehensively review its housing projections and adopt strategies in relation to Hong Kong’s housing situation, the society said.

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Andrew Lam Siu-lo, who’s a legislator and urban planner, said all types of subdivided flats, regardless of their size and living condition, are unsuitable for long-term habitation.

He called on the government to thoroughly assess the actual circumstances of such tenants and adequately prepare for their resettlement to prevent homelessness caused by relocation.

Another lawmaker, Lam Chun-sing, said there should be precise targets and a timetable for eradicating substandard flats. Routine inspections should be carried out after the government has decoded on the criteria of substandard flats, he said, emphasizing that regulations must be robust and effective.

Tik Chi-yuen, who represents the social welfare sector in the city’s legislature, urged the authorities to expedite the construction of public housing units and allocate them promptly to residents. This would allow those living in subpar conditions to have a better home, he said.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com