Letters | Protect small property owners in Hong Kong’s old neighbourhoods

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A glimpse of residential buildings in Sham Shui Po, one of seven districts facing redevelopment. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 11:30am, 17 Jul 2024

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Hong Kong stands at a crossroads with the proposed Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) (Amendment) Bill 2023. While it promises to expedite the redevelopment of old districts, we must question the cost to small property owners who form the heart of our city.

As a proponent of redeveloping Hong Kong’s old neighbourhoods, I recognise the pressing need to address the issues plaguing many ageing buildings, particularly the notorious “three-nil buildings” that lack basic safety features and pose serious threats to residents’ well-being. However, in our pursuit of progress, we must not lose sight of the human element that gives these communities their vibrant character.

The bill’s proposal to lower the compulsory sale threshold for both “designated” and “non-designated” areas for buildings aged 60 and above is particularly concerning. Designated areas are those with 300 or more buildings aged 50 or older, and with 200 or more buildings issued with mandatory inspection notices.

Not all districts may warrant such drastic measures, and reducing the threshold in non-designated areas could lead to the unnecessary displacement of long-established communities.

We must remember that many residents in these ageing districts, often elderly and vulnerable, have invested their life savings into their homes. Lowering the threshold could disadvantage them in negotiations with developers, potentially forcing them to sell below market value and uprooting them from their communities.