John Lee visits subdivided unit residents in Yuen Long, aims for simplified public housing application to improve living conditions

On October 25th, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee will deliver a second Policy Address during his tenure. Today (Sept. 17), he visited Yuen Long to listen to citizens' opinions. Afterward, Lee took to social media to share that he, along with Secretary for Transport and Housing Bureau Mable Chan and Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak, visited a grassroots family residing in Yuen Long.

Lee stated that the family of four resides in a cramped, subdivided unit of approximately a hundred square feet. The limited space serves as a place for studying, cooking, dining, hanging clothes, and drying laundry, with the smells of cooking oil and laundry intermingling. Previously, they experienced water leakage in the toilet, resulting in flooding at home. Such cramped and harsh living conditions cause discomfort and hinder the children's learning and development. They eagerly anticipate the opportunity to move to public housing, where their children can have a comfortable environment for living and studying.

During the visit, Lee had a conversation with the 9-year-old student Chui, the younger sibling. CE learned that he enjoys playing basketball and Chinese drums and is currently a member of the school's Chinese drum team. Chui showcased his drumming skills on the spot. Due to financial constraints, Chui's family cannot afford extracurricular classes, so he highly values the school's provision of free drumming lessons and practice time. He even borrows a smaller version of the Chinese drum from school to practice at home. However, due to the limited space, he can only practice sitting on his bed and needs to be cautious not to hit the bed frame or walls. As for his 17-year-old sister, she has a passion for calligraphy and painting. Similarly, she can only engage in self-study and repeated practice at home due to financial limitations. The calligraphy and artwork of the siblings reflect their respective artistic talents, but they lack a suitable living space that would allow them to grow and develop in a comfortable environment.

Lee expressed that last year's Policy Address proposed the construction of Light Public Housing to reduce the waiting time for public housing and set a target of building approximately 30,000 units within the next five years. These units are primarily intended for applicants who have been waiting for traditional public housing for three years or more, with priority given to families. This initiative aims to increase opportunities for grassroots families like Chui's to move into better housing. Lee also emphasized the importance of utilizing social resources to help more disadvantaged and grassroots families improve their living conditions, create more opportunities for the next generation, and enable them to strive for upward mobility and achieve their dreams, thus making their own bright future.