Singapore and Hong Kong
In Housing Aspect
Group 3
Leader: Leung Kok Hei (21)
Member: Hui Kim Hung (15)
Lo Ching On
(25)
Luo Wei Hao (26)
Yu Ho Yat
(40)
Contents
Background Information
------------------------- P. 3 - 4
Housing (Hong Kong and Singapore)
— Introduction of Housing Department
-------- P. 5 – 9
— Policies ----------------------------------------------- P.10 – 27
— Housing Environment
— Rent and Price
— Illegal Structures
Conclusion
---------------------------- P.28 - 35
----------------------------------- P.36 - 39
------------------------------- P.40 - 50
------------------------------------- P. 51 - 54
Background Information
For Hong Kong:

Population: Around 7 million

Area: Around 1100 km2

Population Density : 6349 / km2 (4th)
Background Information
For Singapore :
• Population: Around 5 million
• Area: Around 710 km2
( more land is being created for
development by land reclamation)
• Population Density : 6745 / km2 (3th)
• An island country made up of 63
islands
• Highly urbanized but almost half of
the country is covered by greenery
Housing Department
(Hong Kong)
Housing Department :

Managing public housing estates which were
built by Hong Kong Housing Authority
Buildings Department :

Improve and Ensure quality of buildings

Ensure the built environment safe and healthy

Ensure that repair works can be carried out
under specified standards and
the supervision of qualified professionals.
Housing Department
(Hong Kong)
Hong Kong Housing Authority
- Main provider of public housing in Hong Kong
- Established in 1973
- Responsible for managing and
repairing the public housing
Housing Department
(Hong Kong)
Hong Kong Housing Society
- A non-government and non-profit organization
- Founded in 1948
- Act as a bridge between government housing and
private market
Housing Department
(Singapore)
Housing and Development Board
- Established in 1960
- Responsible for public housing
in Singapore
- the statutory board of the
Ministry of National Development
Over 80% citizens lived in the public housing imposed by the
HDB
Public Housing(Hong Kong)
Public Housing Scheme in Hong Kong can be divided into
four major part
- Public Rental Housing
- Home Ownership Scheme
- Tenants Purchase Scheme
- Sandwich Class Housing Scheme
Public Rental Housing(Hong Kong)
- The earliest housing programme launched by government
of Hong Kong.
- Aim to provide inexpensive housing
for low-income citizens
(Over 80% of them are < 430 sq.ft)
- The major component of Hong Kong Housing
Examples of Public Rental
Housing
• Ho Man Tin Estate
•Choi Wan Estate
Home Ownership Scheme
- A subsidize-sale programme
- Government sells at a prize far below the overall market
with subsidies
- Restrict on the second-hand market
- Once stop in 2002, but restart in 2010
Examples of Home Ownership
Scheme
Shun Chi Court
Sui Wo Court
Sandwich Class Housing Scheme
- For solving the housing problems of middle-class
- Imposed by the Hong Kong Housing Society
- Demand for this apartment was generally high in Hong
Kong
A. Public Housing
• > 80% of Singaporeans Live in
• located in housing estates
• Well developed neighbourhoods
• Good facilities nearby
http://www.singaporeexpats.com/housing-in-singapore/housing-in-
Public Housing in Singapore
Bukit Batok West Avenue 5, Built in
1998
Left: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Singapore_HDB_001.jpg
Right: ttp://encounteringurbanization.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/sg_hdb.jpg
Why does HDB build Public
Housing?
• Started in 1964,
the government introduced the
Home Ownership for the People Scheme
- Give citizens an immovable asset in the country
- Against Inflation
- Help in overall economic, social and political
stability of the country.
http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10320p.nsf/w/AboutUsPublicHousing?OpenDocu
Types / Size of a Public House
• 2-Room HDB Flat - about 485 sq ft.
3-Room HDB Flat - about 754 sq ft.
4-Room HDB Flat - about 969 sq ft.
5-Room HDB Flat - area of about or 1,184 sq ft.
Jumbo HDB Flat - 6 bedrooms joint by two
3-Room flats.
Executive Apartment (HDB EA) - 3 bedrooms with built-in
area of about 1,615 sq ft.
Executive Mansionette (HDB EM) - Same as Executive
apartment, except it has 2 levels.
Average size of the Public House are about 960 sq ft.
Requirements to buy a HDB
flats
• must be a Singapore Citizen
• > 21 years old
• Restrictions on average monthly income,
<$15000
• Can at most buy flats twice
http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10321p.nsf/w/BuyingNewFlatEligibilitytobuynewHDBflat?OpenDocument
B. Other 20% of Singaporeans
• Live in houses called “Private Housing” generally
– Apartments
– Condominiums
– Landed properties
• Usually low density
“The Pier” at Robertson area
1km to MRT Station
Left: http://images.iproperty.com/iresources/article/a8cbe0d3c5774c2f85d326f926607abc.jpg
Bottom Right: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3163/3706262287_caa3f87ce3_z.jpg?zz=1
Upper Right: http://images04.olx.com.sg/ui/1/95/32/41409332_2.jpg
Public Housing programme
(Singapore)
The Home Ownership for the People Scheme
- Introduced in 1964 (After WWII)
- Give citizen an immovable asset
- In order to solve the housing
problems at that time
( Singapore faced a serious
problem of housing shortages in 1960s)
Public Housing programme
(Singapore)
• CPF for Use of Public Housing (1968)
- Allow citizens to use their CPF savings to finance the
purchase of their homes
- Restricted for using (Housing) before 1968
• Home Protection Scheme (1981)
- Implemented by the CPF Board
- Ensure that owner would not lose their home due to the
death or permanent incapacity
Public Housing programme
(Singapore)
• Launch of Home Office (HO) Scheme
- Programme allows the homeowner conduct smallbusinesses at home
- Save time and expenses due to reduction of operation fee
- Businesses must not affect the neighbour
Public Housing programme
(Singapore)
• Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) (2009)
- To help the lower-income elderly to unlock their housing
equity
- Meet their retirement needs
Housing Environment(HK)
United Christian Hospital
Post Office
Housing Environment(HK)
Shopping mall in public housing(HK)
Transportation in HK
MTR
KMB
Housing Environment(Singapore)
Highway
Car park
Housing Environment(Singapore)
HDB Playground
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
Transportation in Singapore
Mass Rapid
Transit
SBS Transit
Rent price
Hong Kong
Singapore
Average rents of
public flats
(3 Rooms)
$1,500
$3,000
Average rents of
public flats
(4 Rooms)
$2,000
$3,500
http://www.expathome.com.hk/eng/index.php http://www.iproperty.com.sg/
Rent price
Hong Kong
Singapore
Condo
(1000 sq ft.)
$46,000
$35,000
Town house
(2800 sq ft.)
$130,000
$66,000
Penthouse
(5200 sq ft.)
$390,000
$150,000
http://www.expathome.com.hk/eng/index.php http://www.iproperty.com.sg/
Buying price
Hong Kong
Singapore
Condo
$27,000, 000
$16,000,000
Low Rise
(1500 sq ft.)
$19,000,000
$9,600,000
Low Rise
(2000 sq ft.)
$40,000,000
$17,400,000
Townhouse
(3300 sq ft.)
$88,000,000
$25,000,000
http://www.expathome.com.hk/eng/index.php http://www.iproperty.com.sg/
Illegal structure
- Also called Unauthorized Building Works(UBW)
- Definition
Any additions to buildings without the approval of the Buildings
Department
(Building and Construction Authority in Singapore)
- Problems
Cause danger to the whole building
Illegal structure in Hong Kong
Can be found easily


Loose restriction

Long-term issue
Government attitude


Due with the problem depends on how serious it is

Less control in the problem

passive
Law of illegal structure in Hong Kong
- Not complying Order for Removal of UBW
 Criminal offense
- Maximum penalty
- 1 year's imprisonment
- Fine of HK$200,000
For continuing offenses, there is a further
daily fine of HK$20,000
Law of illegal structure in Hong Kong
- Carrying out building works without approval
- Maximum penalty
- 2 years' imprisonment
- Fine of HK$400,000.
For continuing offenses, there is a further
daily fine of HK$20,000.
Accident caused by illegal structure
(Hong Kong)

Building collapse in To Kwa Wan (29 Jan 2010)

Reason:Removing illegal structure

4 people died in the accident
Following works taken by the government


Check all the old building and
illegal structure in Hong Kong
Illegal structure in Singapore
Rare to find in Singapore



Government attitude

Citizens awareness
Additions is allowed with the permission of
Building and Construction Authority
→Fewer accident cause by illegal structure
Law of illegal structure in Singapore
- Not complying Order for Removal of UBW
- Maximum penalty
- < 6 months’ imprisonment
- Fine of $20,000 (= HKD$120,000)
For continuing offenses, there is a further
daily fine of $500(=HKD$3000)
Law of illegal structure in Singapore
- Carrying out building works without approval
- Maximum penalty
- < 2 years' imprisonment
- Fine of $200,000 (=HKD $ 1,200,000)
For continuing offenses, there is a further
daily fine of $1,000 (=HKD $6,000)
Safety of Buildings
• In Singapore, there are no massive Building Collapse
Accidents since 1986 (Hotel New World)
• Issued BCA quality Mark Scheme in 2002
ensure good quality of buildings
Singapore V.S Hong Kong
(Housing Environment)
Hong Kong
Singapore
Living Environment
Overcrowding
Comfortable
Green area
Less
More
Facilities
Less
Well-developed
Transportation
Network
Same
Singapore V.S Hong Kong
(Illegal structure)
Hong Kong
Singapore
Number of illegal
structure
More
Fewer
Laws
Stricter
Looser
Government role
Passive
Active
Citizens awareness
Poorer
Better
Singapore V.S Hong Kong
(Housing)
Hong Kong
Singapore
Development of
Housing Estate
High Density with
Tall Buildings
Good facilities nearby
Rules of applying
Public Housing
Less restriction
long waiting time
More restriction
Voluntary Safety
Inspection Scheme
Quality Check on
New Buildings
Too much kinds of
building, fail to
manage
Most Likely managed
by Government
Safety of Building
lower density
Conclusion
• Our group think that a favourable place for living should include
the following criteria…
 Complete and Well-developed facilities
 Less illegal structures  Safer living environment
 More green area for relaxation
 Reasonable price of residential places
Therefore, we think that
Singapore is a better place to live!