Housing Chief Promotes Subdivided Unit Registration as Early-Bird Deadline Nears
Bastillepost · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN

Summary
Housing Secretary Ho Chung-tai visited Sham Shui Po on Wednesday to urge subdivided unit owners to register under the Simple Housing scheme before the early-bird deadline of August 31. Owners who submit applications by that date will receive a full waiver of the 3,000 Hong Kong dollar certification fee for three years, while those who miss the cutoff will see reduced benefits. The promotional street booth, held at the busy intersection of Pak Ho Street and Fuk Wah Street, drew positive responses from residents, with some sharing that they had already relocated to transitional housing.
Key Points
- Housing Secretary Ho Chung-tai joined Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) Legislative Council member Cheng Wing-shun and Sham Shui Po district councillors Lin Wei-wen and Chan Lung-kit at a promotional street booth on August 26
- The early-bird registration deadline is Monday, August 31; applications submitted by this date qualify for full waiver of the 3,000 HKD certification fee for three years until February 28, 2029
- Applications submitted between September 1 and February 28 next year will only receive full waiver for two years, with the third year reduced to half waiver
- The Sham Shui Po booth was organized by the Hong Kong Single Parents Association at the intersection of Pak Ho Street and Fuk Wah Street, with promotional materials distributed in both Chinese and English to reach ethnic minority communities
- Housing Bureau Deputy Director Tai Shang-cheng previously promoted the scheme at a To Kwa Wan street booth organized by the New Territories West Service Centre of the Hong Kong Social Welfare Workers' Union on August 20, where residents inquired about transitional housing options
Why It Matters
The Simple Housing registration drive forms part of the government's broader strategy to systematically phase out substandard subdivided units, and the imminent expiration of the early-bird incentive makes this week critical for owners weighing the financial benefits of timely registration. The enthusiastic community response, including residents already transitioning to subsidized housing, suggests growing public confidence in the government's multi-pronged approach to addressing Hong Kong's chronic substandard housing problem .
The Simple Housing registration drive forms part of the government's broader strategy to systematically phase out substandard subdivided units, and the imminent expiration of the early-bird incentive makes this week critical for owners weighing the financial benefits of timely registration. The enthusiastic community response, including residents already transitioning to subsidized housing, suggests growing public confidence in the government's multi-pronged approach to addressing Hong Kong's chronic substandard housing problem .