Mr Victor Tai was appointed the Under Secretary for Housing in July 2022. He was the Project Director in the Architectural Services Department before his appointment as the Under Secretary. He is an architect by profession with over thirty years of experience in the building industry. Previously, he worked in the Architectural Services Department, Development Bureau and former Home Affairs Bureau. He was responsible for formulating public works policies and development, including civic, school, quarters, cultural and recreational projects, airport facilities and Kai Tak Sports Park, etc. Mr Tai holds a Bachelor of Architecture Degree and a Master of Arts (in Sculpture) Degree. He is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects and the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design and the President of the Hong Kong Sculpture Society.

Keynote 1: Community in Transition - Transitional Housing

Abstract

Shortage of land has been plaguing Hong Kong in recent years. Given the high rent and shortage of affordable housing for grass-root families, many are left with little choice but to reside in sub-divided units which are usually cramped and having safety risk. The transitional housing projects launched and funded by the Government aim to provide accommodation which is decent, affordable and safe to alleviate the short-term public housing shortage.

Transitional housing is a combined social initiative of short-term housing and community services. Transitional housing projects are implemented through collaboration between the government, private sectors and the non-government organizations (NGOs). With the land or premises made available for short-term use by the Government or private owners, and the NGOs operating the transitional housing, coupled with the provision of a series of community services to the tenants. In short, transitional housing is a new form of short-term housing as a result of the collaboration among different sectors of the society.

Transitional housing enhancing the well-being of local communities. Many transitional housing projects are providing different amenity facilities such as retails shops and restaurants, as well as a series of social and community services, serving not only their tenants but also the local communities. Transitional housing has turned the land/premises of which the long-term use has yet to be realized into facilities which could bring about immediate benefits to the nearby communities.

Transitional housing is a materialization of various Sustainable Design Goals. Apart from the conversion of existing premises, many transitional housing projects have adopted the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) approach, which not only makes available the accommodation in a more efficient and safer manner, but also meets the sustainable design goals of environmental friendliness and social inclusiveness. The flexibility in relocating the MiC units opens up new possibilities for the short-term use of land as well as short-term use of buildings.

Prof. Ling Kar-kan is a professional town planner. He was the Director of Planning of the HKSAR Government (2012-2016), Strategic Planning Advisor for Hong Kong/Shenzhen Cooperation (2021-2022), President of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners (2007-2009) and Director of the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited (2017-2023). He was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2017 and InnoStars Award 2021. He is now the Director of Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). He serves the community as the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Housing Society and Chairman of the Country and Marine Parks Board. He is also the Adjunct Professor of the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor of Practice (Planning) of PolyU, and Associate Fellow of the University College of Estate Management (UK).

Keynote 2: Community Making and Mega Trends of Community Development in the Coming Decades

Abstract

The Transitional Housing Programme started in 2017 has alleviated the housing shortage issue by providing rapidly built and short-term housing solutions. While the Government provides funding for the transitional housing projects, NGOs are responsible for their construction and operation. The Programme has garnered support from various sectors of the society, including private developers. The Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) method has enabled rapid construction of a large number of housing units, making Hong Kong's Transitional Housing Programme the fastest-developing, largest-scale, and most socially engaged Programme of its kind globally. This is an achievement that Hong Kong society should be proud of.

The "Housing + Social Service" model has organically fostered mutually beneficial neighborhood relationships within each Transitional Housing Project. This has attracted scholarly research on topics of well-being of transitional housing communities and community making. Under "Hong Kong 2030+" and "Northern Metropolis Development Strategy", many new communities will emerge in The Northern Metropolis over the next twenty years. The achievements in community development from the Transitional Housing Programme provide very useful references for developing communities in the Northern Metropolis.

This presentation will draw on both local and international housing research to explore how to create cohesive and supportive community environments. This would allow invaluable experiences derived from the Transitional Housing Programme to continue and respond to the major trends of community development in Hong Kong.

Dr Tam Kin Yuen is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Applied Social Sciences and the Programme Leader for BA (Hons) in Social Policy & Social Entrepreneurship at PolyU. His research interests encompass sexual violence and various social policy issues. He has contributed to various academic journals, including the Journal of Family Issues, Journal of Affective Disorders, Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, and Hong Kong Journal of Social Work. In addition to academic work, Dr. Tam was also involved as a member of the Policy Research and Advocacy Standing Committee for the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.

Keynote 3: Findings on the Study of Effective Transitional Housing Delivery in Hong Kong

Abstract

The current study on transitional social housing was conducted using two questionnaires for tenants and the general public. The tenant survey, completed by 89 participants, revealed a strong need for social services for family members. Most tenants did not face significant discrimination and were able to maintain positive family relationships. However, physical and mental discomfort were concerns, especially for middle-aged individuals. Satisfaction with tenancy duration was low, indicating a desire for longer tenancy.

The public survey, completed by 100 participants, supported the policy of transitional housing and its implementation in their community. There was a consensus that individuals in inappropriate accommodations and single-parent families should be prioritized for transitional housing. The public suggested adding community facilities based on community needs to ease the relationship between transitional social housing and the community.