Hong Kong Housing Authority and Housing Department

The Housing Authority (HA) has been keeping in view the usage of non-domestic premises in public housing estates and exploring ways for better utilisation of spaces, including conversion to domestic and other uses subject to technical feasibility and compliance with relevant statutory and land administration requirements.

Having resolved the problem of inadequate headroom through enhanced provision of natural lighting and ventilation, the HA has successfully identified suitable storerooms and empty bays for conversion into about 170 public housing units. Among them, conversion works for about 120 units in 12 estates, namely Ap Lei Chau, Butterfly, Choi Wan (I), Kwai Shing West, Lok Fu, Lung Hang, Nam Shan, Oi Man, Shun Lee, Tai Yuen, Wo Che and Wo Lok Estates, have already been completed, while the conversion of about 50 units in Oi Man, Shun Lee and Shun Tin Estates is underway. In addition, 26 welfare units and 8 shop units have been converted from storerooms and empty bays outside domestic areas in 22 estates in response to demand.

In the latest round of study, the HA further identified some empty bays at the end of the corridors (end bays) in Slab Blocks at Kwong Fuk, Sha Kok and Choi Yuen Estates and explored the feasibility of converting them into domestic units as trial. Having resolved the problems of natural lighting, ventilation, headroom and structural issues for the creation of external façade and drainage connections with strenuous efforts of the Housing Department team, the HA has obtained the Independent Checking Unit’s approval of the building plans and the design could also meet the requirements under the Fire Safety (Buildings) Ordinance. Upon completion of the conversion works, a total number of 113 domestic units each with an internal floor area of about 18m² would be provided. The conversion works will commence in December 2022 and will be completed in phases in 2023 and 2024.

The HA will continue to identify similar empty bays in similar block types in other public housing estates and study the feasibility for converting them into domestic units. The HA will also continue to keep in view the usage of storerooms and explore possible ways for better utilisation, including converting them for other uses.