Economic Transformation and Public Housing Reform in Hong Kong

Abstract

Abstract Hong Kong's economic development has always been closely tied to events outside its borders. and in particular developments in Mainland China. The large scale provision of public rental housing occurred in tandem with its transformation from an entrepot economy to a manufacturing economy. The view has been persuasively presented that indeed its economic development and public housing programme are related. Public housing remained important, although changed some of its essential characteristics, as Hong Kong transformed again from a manufacturing to a higher order services economy. These changes included a greater emphasis on targeting public rental housing and promoting assisted home ownership. Hong Kong is now in the throes of a third economic transformation. to developing innovation and technology based high value added industries. While some of the essential features of Hong Kong's public housing programme remain intact, policy changes presage a shift in its role in Hong Kong's economy and so...