GLORIA CHAN GLORIA.CHAN@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Wednesday, 26 August, 2015, 12:18pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 26 August, 2015, 12:19pm
Applicants pick up white forms at the Housing Authority’s customer service centre in Lok Fu on Wednesday. Photo: Sam Tsang
A pregnant Hong Kong woman, who has never lived with her husband despite being married more than a year, was a would-be second-hand flat buyer as the second round of the government-subsidised Home Ownership Scheme opened this morning.
Winnie Yiu, who is five-months pregnant and lives with her parents, was among the “white form” applicants – those currently renting in the private market – for a HOS flat at the Housing Authority’s customer service centre in Lok Fu.
“Private housing is unaffordable for us,” said Yiu, an accountant in her late 20s who, together with her husband, earns around HK$40,000 a month.
“We have been married for over a year now but we have not lived together.”
Some 2,500 flats are available in this round of the scheme, with 2,250 units allocated to families and 250 to single people.
If her application for a 300-400 sq ft flat is unsuccessful, Yiu plans to move in with her husband and his parents.
“The 2,500 quota isn’t a lot, but we will try our luck,” she said.
Some 2,500 flats are available in this round of the HOS. Photo: Sam Tsang
The subsidised flats scheme was mothballed in 2003 as property prices plunged, but it was revived by Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s administration.
The first round of the interim scheme took place in December last year.
Also among the applicants this morning was Siu Ham-tit, 65, who took a form for her 40-year-old son. Siu’s son, his wife and baby daughter are currently living with her and her husband in a 600 sq ft flat.
Siu’s son and his wife, who earn around HK$46,000 a month between them, did not qualify for the first round of the interim scheme. But as the second round has increased the income limit of family applicants by HK$2,000, they decided to apply.
“The down payment for private housing is too expensive and not worth it,” Siu said. “My son hopes to buy a HK$2 million to HK$3 million HOS flat in Yuen Long. Anything above HK$4 million is unaffordable.”
Under the new round, the income limit for family applications is HK$48,000 per month and the asset limit is HK$1,600,000, while that for single applicants was halved.
Successful applicants may purchase a flat in the HOS secondary market without paying a land premium and are not allowed to sell their flats in the first two years after purchase. However, owners can at any time sell the flats in the open market after paying the premium.
The application period runs until September 8. Forms can be obtained at the Housing Authority customer service centre in Lok Fu or downloaded from its website.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1852693/pregnant-hong-kong-woman-hopes-chance-buy-government
