Gov’t launches second-phase survey on public housing replacement system

The Housing Bureau (IH) has announced the second phase of a random telephone survey, running from today until September 30, to gather opinions and suggestions from Macau residents and public housing tenants about the public housing replacement system.

The survey will be conducted daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

This initiative follows the recent commissioning of a research institution to complete the first phase of gathering feedback from members of the Public Housing Affairs Committee and social organizations.

According to the bureau, it commissioned a research institution to conduct the study on the Economic Housing Replacement System, targeting all Macau residents and economic housing tenants.

A random telephone survey will gather data for this project, which will help the bureau assess the feasibility of such a system in the future.

The bureau urges the general public and public housing residents to “actively participate in this questionnaire survey, share their opinions, and collaborate with the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government in conducting a feasibility study on the public housing replacement system.”

The call for a public housing replacement system was reiterated during the Legislative Assembly’s oral question session in late February.

During that time, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam said the government would soon initiate a study on the replacement system, considering households that have already moved into their units.

Tam also pledged to continue listening to public opinions, optimize housing policies in an orderly manner, and temporarily refrain from arrangements like regular applications for economic housing, as changes in society need to be considered.

Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai stated in April that there are currently over 30,000 completed public housing units, with more than 9,000 under construction, expected to be finished in two years.

Regarding the public housing replacement system, he said it is worth studying and that he would maintain an open mind on the matter.

Housing is a critical social issue of significant public concern, and the economic housing replacement system has long been a topic of extensive discussion.

Chan Kin Sun, assistant professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Macau, stated that the introduction of an economic housing replacement system is an “inevitable trend.”

Meanwhile, the Macao New Chinese Youth Association emphasized the necessity of implementing such a policy.

In an interview with the public broadcaster reported on yesterday, Chan suggested that the government should adopt a more comprehensive perspective, considering the entire life cycle and systematically addressing issues across various sectors.

He advocated for a more effective replacement system, which includes conducting surveys to understand the actual needs of public housing users.

“This should encompass the conditions for replacement in Macau, the valuation of replacement units, and the coordination between old and new public housing laws, while also factoring in residents’ central provident funds in policy decisions,” Chan stated.

A member of the Macao New Chinese Youth Association, Cui Jing Ning, believes that public housing replacement can better support young people’s life plans, such as marriage and childbirth. She urged the government to actively consider the needs of young people when gathering opinions, helping them better plan for future homeownership.

Additionally, she suggested making public housing applications regular and allowing single applicants to apply for two-bedroom units.

Also yesterday, several local Chinese-language media outlets published opinions from various lawmakers regarding the public housing replacement system.

A lawmaker highlighted the need for such a program, noting that under the previous “old public housing law,” applications were highly competitive, and the design of housing units did not meet demand, often leading to multiple family members living together in a single-room unit.

Even under the new law, each household can only apply for a one-bedroom unit, which poses challenges if family structures change due to marriage or childbirth.

Another lawmaker pointed out that the previous system allowed individuals to apply for two-bedroom units, but this option was restricted due to insufficient supply, leaving many individual applicants without options.

He argued that, given recent increases in land resources, a slowdown in public housing demand, and the need to support family development, the government should reconsider allowing single individuals to apply for two-bedroom units. This would aid young families and reduce the reliance on the replacement system to address future space shortages.

Additionally, a legislator noted that under the current public housing system, families who have previously purchased public housing are no longer eligible to buy again.

Due to past restrictions, some families could only apply for smaller units. If their family size increases, such as with more children or living with parents, establishing an exchange system would give them the opportunity to upgrade their housing.

In discussions about proposals for the economic housing replacement system, legislators suggested that the government consider relaxing restrictions on the types of housing that can be applied for.

They emphasized the importance of comprehensively assessing Macau’s overall population development trends and housing needs.

To improve the five-tier housing policy, legislators advocated for utilizing data collected from surveys to inform decisions on economic housing replacement. This includes analyzing the pricing of replacement housing and formulating conditions for property exchanges.