John Lee says Winnie Ho carried out housing agenda
Bastillepost · 3 SOURCES1 day ago5 MIN
Summary
The State Council has removed Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin (何永賢) from office, acting under the Basic Law and on the recommendation of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, according to Xinhua reports carried by local media. Lee said Ho tendered her resignation on October 28 and stated that she was willing to take political responsibility for the fire at Wang Fuk Court. He also said Ho had worked to carry out his policy directives during her tenure, including building about 30,000 Light Public Housing units and reducing the average waiting time for general public rental housing from 6.1 years to 4.8 years. Ho formally left office on Tuesday, November 3, and Lee said he wished her well.
Key Points
- The central government announced that Winnie Ho was removed as Secretary for Housing under the Basic Law, following John Lee’s recommendation.
- John Lee said Ho submitted her resignation on October 28 and said she would assume political responsibility for the Wang Fuk Court fire.
- Lee credited Ho with advancing about 30,000 Light Public Housing units during her time as housing minister.
- He said the average waiting time for general public rental housing fell from 6.1 years to 4.8 years under her tenure.
- Ho joined the government in 1992, became Director of Architectural Services in 2020, and was appointed Secretary for Housing in 2022.
Why It Matters
The change at the top of the Housing Bureau comes as housing supply, public rental waiting times and the regulation of poor-quality subdivided flats remain central public concerns in Hong Kong. Lee’s remarks frame Ho’s departure not only around accountability for the Wang Fuk Court fire, but also around the continuity of major housing policies already under way.