簡介
Listen to #Hashtag Hong Kong every Sunday morning at 8.15
Focussing on issues affecting civil society, we'll hear from representatives of NGOs, associations, statutory bodies, and non-profit groups.
(Sundays 8.15am - 8.25am)
最新
Korver Li, ComHome Social Housing Platform Limited
After the Policy Address 2024, subdivided units (SDUs) issue was widely discussed. The latest figures of SDU residents can be only traced back to the report from the Task Force for the Study on Tenancy Control of Subdivided Units in 2021. Their report revealed that more than 110,000 households live in subdivided units.
Around 21.3% of SDU households, i.e. 23,000 households living in SDUs which were below 7 square metres. A standard parking space is 10 square meters. It is smaller than a standard parking space. Around 18.1% of SDU units i.e. 20,000 units had shared toilets. Around 12.5% of SDU units, i.e. 14,000 units, kitchen combined with toilet. Around 3.1% units, i.e. 3,400 units did not have windows and 1.7% units, i.e. windows of 1,900 units could not be opened.
The median monthly rents of SDU were $4,800. In our experience, a rental of 4,800 dollars can currently only afford an approximately 80-square-foot unit. However, a single recipient of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme currently receives only about 2,500 dollars in housing allowance.
In the latest policy address, the government proposes the “Basic Housing Units” as the new measure to reduce the number of substandard SDUs. All substandard SDUs have to be converted to Basic Housing Units with a set of parameters including the provision of windows, an individual toilet, and floor area of not less than eight square meters.
On the other hand, to address the issue of subdivided units, the government has proposed to increase the supply of public housing, transitional housing, and Light public housing. However, transitional housing and Light public housing are meant for short-term residence; applicants must have been waiting for traditional public housing for three years or more, yet they can only stay for 2 -3 and 5 years, respectively.
According to the 2021 task force report, approximately 30,000 subdivided units (SDUs) are currently unfit as “basic housing units” and should be eradicated. The same report noted that 33,000 households have not applied for public housing, primarily because they are either new immigrants or have exceeded income or asset limits to be eligible for applying for public housing. Even with the government’s pledged increases in Transitional Housing, Light Public Housing, and Public Rental Housing, these households may not qualify for resettlement once the new regulations are implemented. This is largely because most of these SDUs households are new immigrant families or families whose income exceeds the application requirement for public housing.
So, where will they go? No clear rehousing measures have been proposed since last year, when the Chief Executive announced the Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units.
We are also disappointed that the policy address did not further discuss or implement follow-up measures on SDU rental regulation, as effective enforcement of the law remains uncertain. The number of SDUs may decrease and rents may rise. Without a rent ceiling, landlords will be the main beneficiaries. We urge the government to take the following actions:
Establish a social service team similar to the ComHome Social Housing Platform, which not only provides social support services but also acts as a social rental agency to foster fair tenancy relationships between tenants and landlords. Refine the SDU rental regulation ordinance, implementing a rent ceiling next year to protect those who cannot be resettled in government housing.Fulfill plans to build sufficient public rental and other forms of transitional housing within urban areas. We’d like to delicate this song Space Capsule by Leo Ku to everyone.
重溫
Jason Fan, Secretary General of the Hong Kong E-Vehicles Business General Association
Good morning. The Hong Kong E-Vehicles Business General Association (“HKEVA”) was established in 2017. “Promoting innovation, nurturing support and professional colleagues” has become our goal. We comprise of a group of elites from the automotive industry, power supply and distribution service providers. In addition, various universities professors and academics are also invited to be our advisory team. We strive to establish a solid platform for discussion as well as providing information and advice to facilitate the building of SMART CITY BLUEPRINT particularly in Smart Mobility with Green environment for better using and running of green vehicle technologies in Hong Kong.
Up to August 2024, there are over 98,000 electric vehicles registered in Hong Kong. It is a noticeable increase in the usage of electric vehicles, especially among private cars. However, comparing with the traditional fossil fuel vehicles, electric vehicles only account for around 10% of the total registered vehicles in Hong Kong.
The “One-for-One Replacement” scheme and the tax concession from the Transport Department are effective measures to move Hong Kong people to switch to electric vehicles. Back in 2018 when the schemes started, there were only around 10,000 electric vehicles in Hong Kong. Therefore, HKEVA would like the Government to continue the “One-for-One Replacement” scheme. The overall electric vehicle penetration rate in Hong Kong is still low at around 10%.
Transportation sector is the second largest carbon emission source in Hong Kong, just behind electricity generation. It accounts for around 18% of carbon emission in Hong Kong. Using electric vehicles can significantly reduce the roadside emission. Therefore, adoption of electric vehicles plays an important part in the carbon neutral policy of the Government.
Another benefit of using electric vehicles other than zero roadside emission is that electric vehicle is efficient. With the relatively low electricity cost in Hong Kong, drivers can enjoy lower fuel cost. In terms of maintenance, with fewer moving parts in the electric vehicles, for example, no gearbox, the maintenance cost for electric vehicle is relatively lower too.
However, charging electric vehicles remains the biggest concern for drivers to switch to electric vehicles as we only have around 9,000 public chargers in Hong Kong. Therefore, it is clear that there is NOT enough public chargers in the city.
For the future electric vehicle development in Hong Kong, HKEVA would like to suggest the following to the Government.
1. Continue the One-for-One Replacement and tax concession schemes. We suggest the Government to relax the requirements on Ownership and Licensed Periods for “Old Private Car” in the scheme so that drivers can join the scheme more easily. Although we recorded significant increase in the number of electric vehicles in private car, the conversation of commercial vehicles to electric remains slow. Commercial vehicles include light goods vehicles, taxis, mini-buses and buses etc... The usage for commercial vehicles is high but there are not enough models in the market for the drivers to choose. Therefore, more direct financial attractiveness is necessary from the Government to encourage manufacturers to develop and import more electric models for commercial vehicles.
2. Build roadside public charging stations over all 18 districts in Hong Kong. This infrastructure enhancement can help solve the charging concerns from the community. It involves works and approvals from different government authorities. Therefore, we encourage the Government to set up an Inter- departmental Working Group to solve the issues arising from the charging infrastructure development. We understand that there is a similar Working Group on Using Hydrogen as Fuel. We suggested the Government to make use of this Working Group to solve the issues arise from electric vehicles development.
3. Battery is one of the key components in electric vehicles. The manufacturing and disposal of used battery are very controversial topics in encouraging the society to switch to electric vehicle. Therefore, the battery recycling industry is a very important element in the electric vehicle supply chain. HKEVA urges the Government to implement the Producer Responsibility Scheme on Retried Electric Vehicle Batteries as soon as possible. We support the Government to manage retired batteries centrally and locally. We also encourage the Government to setup a battery registration and identity system, record all imported battery. This measure increases the battery traceability and encourage recycling and re-proposing. Especially on re-proposing, it gives “second life” to battery and motivate different industrial and commercial innovative applications.
4. With more and more electric vehicle running on the streets, repair and maintenance support on electric vehicles becomes a concern for drivers to switch to electric vehicles. Therefore, it is important for existing vehicle maintenance mechanics to acquire new knowledge and skills on electric vehicles. On training and education, we encourage the government to put more resources in the newly enhanced Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Maintenance. Organise more relevant training programs and help existing vehicle maintenance mechanics and workshops to pick up the maintenance and repair works for electric vehicles.
And now I would like to dedicate to all of you a song "獅子山下” by Roman.
