HA approves measures to encourage upward mobility through housing ladder
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA)'s Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) today (November 6) approved a series of measures that encourage upward mobility through the housing ladder, including increasing the quota and enhancing the arrangements of the White Form Secondary Market Scheme (WSM), and relaxing the alienation restriction period of new subsidised sale flats (SSF) that will be put up for sale in the open market.
Starting from the next WSM exercise, the HA will further increase the quota by 1 000 to 7 000. Half of the additional quotas will be allocated to young families and one-person applicants aged below 40 opting to join the Youth Scheme (WSM), while the remaining 500 are ordinary quotas.
"In response to keen market demand for the WSM quota, the HA substantially increased the quota by 1 500 and all of them were allocated to young families and one-person applicants aged below 40 under WSM 2024, which eventually was over-subscribed by about five times. More than 80 per cent of the applications received came from young applicants opting to join the Youth Scheme (WSM). This reflected that the scheme was well received by young people," a spokesman for HA said.
Regarding the operational arrangements of the WSM, the SHC noted that, in recent WSM exercises, an average of about 15 per cent to 20 per cent of the applicants awarded with a quota did not apply for the Certificate of Eligibility to Purchase (CEP) within a specified period for purchasing SSF with premium unpaid in the secondary market.
To avoid wastage of quotas due to personal preferences, the SHC endorsed that starting from the next WSM exercise, the number of Approval Letters to be issued by the HA will be suitably higher than the quota set under the WSM exercise, ensuring that the quota for flat purchases can be fully utilised. The HA will determine the exact percentage of the over-issuance having regard to relevant factors, and details will be announced prior to each application period.
The SHC also approved, starting from the WSM 2024, any unused family quotas will be allocated to one-person applicants, which is consistent with the practice adopted for the primary SSF sale exercise. Moreover, to ensure full utilisation of WSM 2024 quotas, depending on the situation of approved applicants applying for the CEPs, the HA will issue an additional batch of Approval Letters according to the ballot order to cover unused quotas.
The HA will also increase the ratio of the quota allocation between Green Form and White Form from 40:60 to 50:50 starting from the next Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) sale exercise, and at the same time increase the ratio of larger units in HOS and Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) projects to encourage more Public Rental Housing tenants to purchase SSF.
The HA tightened the alienation restrictions of HOS and GSH flats in 2022 to prevent short-term speculative activities. The restriction period for sale in the open market upon payment of premiums was lengthened from the first 10 years to the first 15 years since the date of first assignment. Taking into account the latest market development that the transactions of HOS and GSH flats in the open market have been declining, and to encourage upward mobility through the housing ladder, the SHC endorsed today to shorten the alienation restriction period of new SSF that will be put up for sale in the open market from 15 years to 10 years from the date of the first assignment, starting from the next HOS and GSH sale exercises.
Safeguarding the basic housing needs of Hong Kong people is the top priority of the Government. With the supply of public housing continuously increasing, the Government is also committed to enriching the housing ladder to facilitate upward mobility for the public. Last year's Policy Address introduced various measures to help members of public, especially young people, achieve home ownership and rekindle their hopes. In the 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive further announced a series of initiatives to assist people from different social strata in attaining comfortable and fulfilling lives.
Source: AI-found images
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 21) released the fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in May, covering 12 survey areas, as follows:
District |
Survey Area |
May 2026 |
First Phase Gravidtrap Index |
First Phase Density Index |
Eastern |
Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho |
9.1% |
1.4 |
Islands |
Tung Chung |
2.0% |
1.0 |
Kowloon City |
Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan |
6.7% |
1.5 |
Tai Po |
Tai Po East |
2.2% |
2.0 |
Tai Po West |
15.5% |
1.0 |
Tuen Mun |
Tuen Mun South |
9.1% |
1.4 |
District |
Survey Area |
May 2026 |
Area Gravidtrap Index |
Area Density Index |
Central and Western |
Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui |
16.8% |
1.3 |
Eastern |
Chai Wan |
15.4% |
1.0 |
North Point and Quarry Bay |
18.9% |
1.4 |
Southern |
Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau |
20.8% |
1.7 |
Sha Tin |
Sha Tin Town Centre and Fo Tan |
18.3% |
1.4 |
Tsuen Wan |
Tsuen Wan Town |
6.9% |
2.3 |
The fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May includes First Phase Gravidtrap Indexes covering six survey areas and Area Gravidtrap Indexes covering six survey areas. Among which, six survey areas recorded gravidtrap indexes above 10 per cent, while Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District recorded a gravidtrap index above 20 per cent. Meanwhile, the gravidtrap indexes of six survey areas, namely Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui in Central and Western District; North Point and Quarry Bay in Eastern District; Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho in Eastern District; Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau in Southern District; Tai Po East in Tai Po District; and Tuen Mun South in Tuen Mun District, have recorded a decrease as compared to the indexes recorded in the last survey period, reflecting the progress of relevant mosquito control work.
With reference to the data from the past few years, the gravidtrap indexes start to rise from April or May every year. The actual timing and extent of the rise are affected by factors like weather conditions and rainfall. The average temperature and rainfall recorded in April this year were higher than those in the same period last year, creating favourable conditions for mosquito growth and breeding. As a result, the rise in gravidtrap indexes occurred earlier this year. With the increase in rainfall in May, the gravidtrap indexes are expected to rise further.
For survey areas which recorded indexes exceeding 10 per cent, in accordance with the mechanism implemented by the FEHD in response to the chikungunya fever (CF) situation (i.e. strengthening mosquito control work in areas with a gravidtrap index between 10 per cent and 20 per cent, instead of 20 per cent or above under the original mechanism), the FEHD is collaborating with relevant departments and stakeholders to identify locations with high mosquito infestations and carry out intensive and targeted mosquito control measures. The FEHD has initiated two prosecutions against the relevant construction site contractors following the discovery of mosquito breeding at construction sites in Tai Po District and Southern District. Moreover, following the discovery of stagnant water or stagnant water containers in a park, a construction site, a private housing estate, a clinic and a private premises in Tai Po District, Central and Western District, as well as Southern District, the FEHD has issued five statutory notices to the responsible persons-in-charge, requiring the clearance of such items within a specified timeframe. The FEHD, the relevant departments and stakeholders are following up on the mosquito control work, and will also organise exhibitions, distribute leaflets and posters, and notify residential estates that have subscribed to the gravidtrap Rapid Alert System, advising property management agents and residents to stay vigilant and work together in taking mosquito prevention and elimination measures. In addition, the FEHD will strengthen the monitoring of the gravidtrap index in the areas to review the effectiveness of the mosquito control work.
Public participation is crucial to the effective control of mosquito problems. The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to work together in strengthening personal mosquito control measures, including:
tidy up their premises and check for any accumulation of water inside the premises;
remove all unnecessary water collections and eliminate the sources;
check household items (those placed in outdoor and open areas in particular), such as refuse containers, vases, air conditioner drip trays, and laundry racks to prevent stagnant water;
change water in flower vases and scrub their inner surfaces thoroughly, and remove water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week;
properly cover all containers that hold water to prevent mosquitoes from accessing the water;
properly dispose of articles that can contain water, such as disposable meal boxes and empty cans; and
scrub drains and surface sewers with alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Starting in August 2025, following the completion of the surveillance of individual survey areas, and once the latest gravidtrap index and the density index are available, the FEHD has been disseminating relevant information through press releases, its website and social media. It aims to allow members of the public to quickly grasp the mosquito infestation situation and strengthen mosquito control efforts, thereby reducing the risk of CF transmission.
Following recommendations from the World Health Organization and taking into account the local situation in Hong Kong, the FEHD sets up gravidtraps in districts where mosquito-borne diseases have been recorded in the past, as well as in densely populated places such as housing estates, hospitals and schools to monitor the breeding and distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which can transmit CF and dengue fever. At present, the FEHD has set up gravidtraps in 62 survey areas of the community, with a surveillance period of two weeks. During the surveillance period, the FEHD will collect the gravidtraps once a week. After the first week of surveillance, the FEHD will immediately examine the glue boards inside the retrieved gravidtraps for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes to compile the Gravidtrap Index (First Phase) and Density Index (First Phase). At the end of the second week of surveillance, the FEHD will instantly check the glue boards for the presence of adult Aedine mosquitoes. Data from the two weeks of surveillance will be combined to obtain the Area Gravidtrap Index and the Area Density Index. The gravidtrap and density indexes for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas, as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures, are available on the department's webpage (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pestcontrol/dengue_fever/Dengue_Fever_Gravidtrap_Index_Update.html#).
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
FEHD releases fourth batch of gravidtrap indexes for Aedes albopictus in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
