MR YIU SI-WING (in Cantonese): Deputy President, thanks Mr Vincent CHENG for moving this motion. The Council debated earlier about the motion on increasing housing supply. The current motion on transitional housing also springs from the shortage in public housing. According to the government statistic, as at the end of 2018, there are about 150 000 general applications for public housing, the average waiting time for the applicants is 5.5 years, setting a record high over past 18 years. Many households waiting for public housing are forced to live in subdivided units temporarily due to low income. According to the figures of the Census and Statistics Department, there are about 92 700 subdivided units in the Territory at present. Their mid-point rent is about $4,500 with an average living space of just 62.4 sq ft for each person, which is far below the 161 sq ft for general households in the Territory.

Subdivided units are small and poorly equipped but the rents are expensive, it causes great torture to the body and soul of both the young and old in a family undoubtedly. Hong Kong is a renowned and developed world city, the living environment of the people is incompatible with its international image, this is an extremely unreasonable phenomenon. Since it is impossible to shorten the waiting time for public housing in the short run, to improve the living environment or reduce their rental expenses for people waiting for public housing through provision of transitional housing is undoubtedly a means when there is no way out.

I agree in principle to the proposal on increasing transitional housing, but to a certain extent, increasing the supply of short-term transitional housing is more difficult than increasing land supply. In order to provide short-term transitional housing, it is either constructing modular housing on idle sites which can be demolished and relocated at any time, or making use of suitable vacant flats, both of which are temporary measures which make use of every inch of land available. In terms of operation, there are certain limitations and constraints and is hard to form a scale.

The proposal in part (1) of the original motion is to incorporate transitional housing into the Long Term Housing Strategy to formulate the supply target for transitional housing, I think we have to handle with care. At present, the crux of the housing supply problem in Hong Kong lies in the shortage of land, the focus of the Long Term Housing Strategy should be on how to develop the land resources, formulate corresponding housing supply target in accordance with the population growth and urban development. Transitional housing is simply a transitional measure, its major function is to reduce the rent burden of residents waiting for public housing to prevent them from living in the subdivided units which have poor environment. Hence, moving to transitional housing is not equivalent to solving the long-term living problem. If transitional housing is incorporated into the Long Term Housing Strategy, it will be equal to a long-term occupation of certain land resources by this type of housing, this will on the contrary make it more difficult for the Government to find land.

Moreover, the original motion proposed the formulation of a supply target of not less than 10 000 units within three years, I think it lacks justification. In formulating target, it will require a clear definition and scientific data in order to determine the actual number required. If this job is to be carried out, the Government should draw up the policy and pass it to a dedicated team for coordination, work together with some charitable organizations or social workers to conduct survey on the demand and work out the specific information and a list on families in need that have actual needs, draw up short- and medium-term strategies according to the circumstances and introduce transitional housing in varying quantity at different periods to provide support for the families in need to lessen their living pressure during the period of waiting.

As for how to increase the supply of transitional housing, I propose the following three ways: firstly the revitalization of industrial buildings. As many industrial buildings are located in the urban areas, it is convenient to travel for work, the demand will surely be bigger. However, the restrictions in land lease make residential use impossible. The Government can take into account the characteristics of the industrial buildings and accede to the conversion of units within the industrial buildings in compliance with the related ordinances to meet the residential needs.

Secondly, to identify temporary sites for building modular housing while at the same time mobilizing local power. Part (5) of the original motion urged the Government to make public the lists on idle government sites or facilities which are suitable for development of transitional housing so that the relevant organizations can examine and prepare the plans on transitional housing as early as possible. I give my support to it. The local communities are particularly familiar with the local environment, they can put forth proposals in accordance with the selected sites on the list, or they may provide better suggestions. I know that Mr Vincent CHENG had proposed to build temporary modular housing on a vacant site at Yen Chow Street in Sham Shui Po and got Government's approval already, the relevant work is under preparation. If it is met with success, I hope that the Government could continue promoting such practice and the cooperation with the local communities in similar manner, this will be much more effective.

Thirdly, to enhance the cooperation with non-profit making organizations, provide fund for conversion and revitalization of idle units. With their social networks, the non-profit making organizations should be able to understand timely the situation of idle sites and flats, assist in persuading the relevant stakeholders to put out for rent at affordable prices. The Government can then provide fund for conversion into transitional housing for occupation by families in need at low rent. I think this is a practical way. The number of flats provided by programmes like the Light Home, SOUK housing units and SoCo Room for Rent that have come into operation recently is not too significant but many a little makes a mickle, the Government should encourage and support such social power, enhance their contributions in the area of transitional housing.

Deputy President, I so submit.