published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Hong Kong has a long historical development of public housing and become one of the largest public housing programmes city in the world. However, the demand for housing of the low income young people is still not met. They cannot afford decent housing in the private market. Since Housing Authority (HA) introduced the Quota and Points System (QPS) in 2005 for single person applicants. The purpose of the scheme was to set an annual quota for non-elderly one-person applicants applying for public rental housing (PRH) and establish a points system to accord priority to applicants of higher age. The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing housing subsidy policy for solving the housing problems of the young people in Hong Kong. First, I will investigate and define the housing problems of young people and trying to make some recommendations and suggestions to government. Therefore, a survey will be conducted through interview questionnaire to the young people in order to study their housing problems and general characteristics. By studying the housing problems of the lower income young people in Hong Kong and hope the findings of this research may provide insights for policy makers in tackling the young people's housing problems. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

The population of Hong Kong is aging very rapidly. When the Chief Executive appealed to the community to care for our elderly and to make them feel a sense of belonging, the question immediately comes to our mind is that how well our senior citizens are housed and their needs served. After studied the literatures and research, I found most of the elderly would like to stay in their own home that is now called the idea of Aging in Place. So I take this opportunity to evaluate the performance of the Hong Kong Housing Society, This study referred from the forms of elderly housing and policy available in five overseas countries, all of them are located at Asia. The research done in this study reveals that the elderly want to stay in their own home in their later life and also some improvements needed to be made for the aging in place successful in the Housing Society's public rental housing estates. To enable our senior citizens to live independently with dignity in their twilight years, it is necessary to have the provision of a spectrum of services in the estate community to ensure that the elderly can continue to live in the familiar environment even when their self-care ability deteriorates. Simultaneously, efforts should also be initiated by the Housing Society to depart from its traditional design by incorporating barrier-free and elderly-friendly features into the built environment and the housing units of the rental housing estates. Recommendations on how to serve the elderly better by providing quality housing covering the physical and the social aspects are put forward. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

As the world advances and communications keep improving, most people understandably are looking for better living qualities instead of merely a 'shelter'. These include not only the middle or upper classes but also those residing in government subsidized public housing such as the ones in Hong Kong. Although public housing estates are only meant to offer a very low-cost environment meeting basic accommodation needs, people still wants to enjoy daily living in terms of community harmony, friendly and helpful neighborhood, mutual interaction, and common social activities. Thus, in Hong Kong, research studies have since been proposed to determine the possible factors that can increase the life quality for public housing, given that these budgeted estates do not carry much commercial values and are limited in space, location, and architectural merits. The term "tenant participation", introduced by Linneman and Megbolugbe, refers to the active participation of tenants in well-organized manner to influence and improve their own living conditions. Tenants will be able to seek more rights and involvement in the healthy and pleasant development for their own estates. In 1995, the Housing Authority launched the Estate Management Advisory Committee (EMAC) Scheme to address the rising aspiration of tenant participation. An EMAC estate allow tenants to participate in local management matters, design of housing units, provision of facilities, and partnering arrangements. Consequently, it is expected that tenants there will develop a stronger sense of belongings, foster a more harmony neighborhood, and enhance neighborly interaction. For non-EMAC estates, tenant participation would be weak due to lack of resources in organizing interesting activities, relatively less community attachment, and shorter length of resident period. The purpose of this research work aims to qualify and quantify the degree of tenant participation for EMAC estates, versus the non-EMAC ones. And hence we will be able to make recommendations to enhance neighborly interaction. Our research approach first depends on a survey exercise in three selected public rental housing estates. The survey is specially-designed to serve two purposes: 1) identifying the factors affecting neighborly interaction for both EMAC and non-EMAC estates; and 2) evaluating the degree of tenant participation in affecting neighborly interaction in three categories – EMAC with members taking active involvement, EMAC with less active involvement, and finally the non-EMAC. Approach next is to substantiate the survey findings with explanation by considering three orthogonal aspects: 1) the change of policy on EMAC Scheme, on EMAC funding arrangement, and on the enhanced partnering arrangement among EMACs and NGOs; 2) the design of housing blocks and community facilities provided in EMAC and non-EMAC estates; and 3) the sociological impact which considers the residents' aspiration and feeling on living environment as well as their desire on community building activities. Applying the above statistical approach on our targeted population, we have obtained reasonable sample sizes of normal distribution spanning working and non-working classes, genders, and various age groups. By analyzing the results, we have confirmed our hypothesis and further been able to make recommendations to strengthen neighborly interaction for our public rental housing estates. In concluding the research, we are putting forward three specific recommendations: 1) on top of establishing EMACs, we should extensively promote and facilitate the enhanced partnering arrangements jointly with NGOs, Voluntary Agencies (VA), and Residents Associations (RA); 2) for an estate which is still not EMAC-ready, we should help and fund to establish a local community service and activity task force to build up effective and attractive tenant participation; and 3) we should allow higher flexibility in the use of EMAC funding according to specific needs of an estate as some may demand more improvement works while some may want more partnering functions and activities due to dynamic population fluctuation. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

It has been widely recognized that there is urgent need to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission for mitigation of climate change. The mitigation strategies are highly associated with planning and design that assist to tackle CO2 emissions embodied in housing development. This research conducts evaluation of planning and design of public housing in Hong Kong as it affects the production of CO2 has shown a quite unique situation in comparison with other cities because of a combination of various aspects. Firstly, the reduction in energy consumption of transportation by lower transportation demand that directly cutbacks the fossil fuel consumption as well as reduces the emission of CO2. Dramatic change of location-based mobility patterns due to the failure of selfcontained new town development that highly impacts the daily trip of low-income people, who live in public housing that locate distant from the urban area and even the railway station. Cross-district to work or conduct their activities by multiple trips generate more CO2 emission. Secondly, the reduction of carbon dioxide increases the importance of carbon absorption by greening and CO2 diminution by recycling. As Hong Kong is a compact city, planning and design of housing face to the challenges of conserve lands for greenery and reserve space for recycling facilities in estate. Thirdly, enhancing low-carbon living through the reduction of electricity consumption. High-rise and high-density housing development is unique in Hong Kong, which has no doubt amplified the electricity consumption. While residents’ behavioral study shows that convenient, privacy, and practicability are the driven consideration factors. This study reveals the practicing planning and design of public housing in Hong Kong positively contribute to reduce CO2 emission; while less attention has been paid to the jobs-housing balance and non-motorized transportation developments. This study fills a gap of variations between theoretical and practical differences context by suggesting integrate residents’ perspectives and administrative approach in fostering low-carbon development in compact urban context. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Social stigma on public housing is a deep-rooted and unsolvable problem, places with large-scale public housing are perceived as concentration of unemployment and crimes in which outsiders are reluctant to visit those ghettos. Some empirical researches endeavored to argue social stigma on public housing can be abated by diversifying the tenure type, while UK government is a typical example in implementing mix tenure policy. However, the situation of Hong Kong seems different, social stigma on public housing is less apparent than western countries while living in public housing is sometimes perceived as fortunate due to low rent cost and good quality. In Hong Kong, government has not adopted any mix tenure policy whereas mix tenure of public housing, mix of renters and owners, is an unintended consequence of Tenant Purchase Scheme (TPS). In order to understand why social stigma seems less apparent in Hong Kong, this research is going to examine, first, the situation of social stigma on public housing in particular to Lam Tin district where a place with high density of public housing and mix tenure, second, if mix-tenure can alleviate social stigma on public housing in Hong Kong in which the research area will be focus on the aspects of unemployment and security because public housing is perceived as concentration of unemployment and crimes. In regard to the above research question, two sets of questionnaires were conducted to both residents living in TPS estates and private estates in order to understand their different perceptions on the unemployment and security of public housing, and thereby the survey result will be compared with the actual statistics from governmental bodies. Generally speaking, the survey analysis indicated that both sides of resident have apparent social stigma on the security of public housing while unemployment is less seen. What is more, it is interesting that the survey findings are different from the actual situation. Although residents believed that the crime rate is higher in public housing than private housing, there is neither positive nor negative relation between the variables of high density of public housing and crime rates. Social stigma on security was apparently seen from the survey in which majority of respondents agreed with high crime rate in public housing, yet Hong Kong government is not intended to solve the problem as what UK government did because of its historical political philosophy and financial constraints. For instance, Hong Kong government is reluctant to restrict the private developers through mix tenure policy since it would affect the historical philosophy of free economy for Hong Kong. Second, governors are accountable to explain how the public money was spent, and hence government is sensitive on spending large amount of public money to improve the security service and system. In view of the political and financial considerations, it is believed that tackling social stigma on public housing would put at lower priority in government's agenda. Last but not least, since the survey data is only collected in Lam Tin due to time and cost limits, the findings are not extensive and could not apply to all districts of Hong Kong especially for those areas without mix-tenure. In this regard, to have a further analysis on social stigma of Hong Kong public housing, author suggested widening the data collection to conduct a more comprehensive survey. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Hong Kong, such an international metropolis, is well known for its free market with limited government interventions. In terms of the housing sector, the Hong Kong government always plays an important role to maintain the sustainable housing development. Thus, lots of housing policies were introduced in the past several decades. One of them was the Tenants Purchasing Scheme (TPS)released in 1998, which helped the tenants of Public Rental Housing to purchase their flats with a great discount. However, as being blamed by its adverse effect on the housing market, the TPS was suspended in 2002. Since the housing price kept growing in the last several years and the pursuit of home ownership became much more difficult, the feasibility of restarting TPS has been widely discussed. However, the Hong Kong government has clearly stated that it will not be restarted due to limited amount of PRH flats and the large number of applicants in the Waiting List (WL) of PRH. After series of investigation, it is assumed and proved that a new TPS can be an effective way to promote home ownership under Hong Kong’s special circumstance. If the payment of land premium is adjusted and more PRH tenants are able to purchase their flats, the conflict between housing supply and housing demand can be lessened. In this way, more citizens are to become property owners and the public housing recourses can be better used. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Since the growing aging population in Hong Kong and most of the elderly living under various public housing estates. Over the years, public housing program in Hong Kong have been expanding and now provides residence to a significant elder people in Hong Kong. For aged public housing estates which accommodate the majority of the elderly with inadequate facilities both in interior unit and in exterior to meet their daily needs while their physical capability deteriorating. Therefore, “Aging in place” become the better housing option for elder people to maintain the greater autonomy and be less dependent on other sources of assistance with adequate supportive services and facilities. Under this circumstance, elder people prefer to reside in the community or place which they have a strong sense of attachment and familiarize with. However, the redevelopment projects for the aged public housing estates pose a considerable threat to implement the “Aging in place” because this change the living environment for the elderly and relocation to other living places may not be able to accommodate the elderly needs for social connection. Therefore, we need to examine and assess the applicability of “Aging in place” under the redevelopment of public housing estates Through the literature review, “Aging in place” is defined to promote one’s ability to live in their current residence safely, comfortably and independently without moving. Also, this study is to investigate the concept of “Aging in place” has been used in planning and design stages of a public housing estate. In this regard, Pak Tin estate was used as case study. The findings showed that there were two blocks built as Senior Housing with standardized facilities and design to meet the housing needs for the elderly. The rest of the general public housing blocks did carry out the concept of “Universal Design” in communal area to assist the elderly in daily living. In future planning, demand a holistic approach among the concerned bureaux and departments in planning. The concept of “Aging in place” has been achieved in Pak Tin estate is assessed through conducting in-depth interview with elder people and stakeholders in Pak Tin estate. The findings showed that Senior Housing blocks are not popular with elder people because the interior design approaches of the unit cannot meet the housing needs for the elderly. While the general public housing in interior design is relatively acceptable to the elder resident upon modification of the unit and introduce the concept of “Universal Design” in the unit. The District and Community facilities are sufficient to assist the elder people in daily living and sometimes required to access other districts for necessary services which not available in the District. The improvement measures should be drawn to enhance accessible fitness facilities, offer various health services in the estate and district. For the community support service and social connection, the service provider is the Non-profit making organization which funded by the government. These NGOs offered the supportive services are praised by the elder resident to “Aging in place” and stay in the community. The attention should be drawn to cater for elder peope’s needs for social activities in planning and design of “Open spaces” and thus strengthen the neighborhood support. After consolidation and analysis of ideas from a case study and opinion from elder residents and stakeholder in Pak Tin estate, we recommended that the Design specification and approach in future blocks in public housing estate, Planning and Design Approach in Surrounding Area of Estate and District, Planning in Open Spaces for Community service and social connection and the HA’s role in implementing “Aging in place” should be reviewed in order to meet the housing needs of the elder residents. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Housing is not only a shelter, but also the basic component of elderly’s well-being because it is a place for sustaining family and social connections, and most elderly persons wish to age in their own home as long as possible. The rapid ageing population in Hong Kong has lead to the continuous rise of the old age dependency ratio. Therefore, the Hong Kong government has pick up most of the caregiving responsibility by providing public rental housing, financial assistant, and elderly-care services to the elderly. However, ageing is a complicated process and meeting the needs of the elderly are not a simple task. Thus, the formal and informal social networks will need to work together in order to provide a more comprehensive services to the elderly and enhance the quality of the life of the elderly. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management