35 families in Hong Kong shoebox flats face eviction since start of new rule
Occupants of another 40 subdivided flats who faced eviction last year are still living in Sham Shui Po’s Yee Wa Building, housing chief reveals
Thirty-five families living in subdivided flats in Hong Kong have faced eviction in the 2½ months since the government introduced a new regime to eradicate substandard shoebox homes, according to housing authorities.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin also said on Wednesday that another 40 subdivided flat households from Yee Wa Building in Sham Shui Po, which faced eviction last year, were still living in the block and considering their options.
The Basic Housing Units Ordinance took effect in March, allowing only certified subdivided flats that complied with minimum requirements to be legally leased.
However, a number of eviction cases have been reported since the government proposed the regulation in 2024.
Since March, district service teams from housing authorities have recorded 35 cases involving subdivided flat tenants across different buildings who were asked to vacate at short notice, according to Ho.
The teams helped 10 cases apply for transitional housing – temporary homes operated by NGOs for families waiting for a public rental flat or who have urgent housing needs.