Latest news with #ChanHok-fung
South China Morning Post
31-03-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong lawmakers question if landlords will register subdivided flats
Lawmakers have expressed concerns over whether landlords will take part in a proposed registration scheme for subdivided homes in Hong Kong, with some urging authorities to reduce the fees to increase the incentive. Advertisement They questioned the government's approach at a Legislative Council panel meeting on Monday, where officials discussed the latest proposal for the scheme that offers a three-year grace period for landlords to rectify substandard flats to meet minimum standards. 'How could the Housing Bureau ensure the registration is efficient ?' lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun said. Lawmaker Chan Hok-fung asked whether the registration fee could be reduced and if the bureau had enough manpower for enforcement actions in the future if owners failed to register their flats. Lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui suggested the HK$1,000 (US$129) registration fee be waived in the first year as an 'early bird discount'. Advertisement She added the fee could be significantly increased in the second or third year to encourage owners to register as early as possible. The government earlier proposed drafting a new law allowing only registered subdivided flats – known as 'basic housing units' – that meet minimum standards to remain on the rental market. It is estimated there are 110,000 subdivided flats in the city.
South China Morning Post
13-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong trams will further lose competitiveness if fares increase: lawmaker
Hong Kong trams might further lose their competitiveness with a proposed fare hike and the operator should open up new revenue streams by stepping up promotion on mainland Chinese social media platforms such as RedNote to draw more tourists, a lawmaker has said. The Hong Kong Tramway Workers Union on Thursday also said the trams had lost a significant number of passengers under the government's HK$2 (US 26 cents) fare scheme for elderly residents and that the proposed increment was needed to keep its operations afloat. Under a proposal submitted to transport authorities by Hong Kong Tramways earlier this week, adult fares would be increased from the current HK$3. Concessionary fares for children aged between three and 11 will rise from HK$1.50 to HK$1.60, an increase of 6.7 per cent, and for elderly residents above 65 from HK$1.30 to HK$1.50, up 15.4 per cent. Lawmaker Chan Hok-fung of Hong Kong Island West constituency, warned that the fare hike, if approved, could ultimately hurt the operator's bottom line as it would potentially drive away more passengers. He noted that many tourists visited the tram station in Kennedy Town, which proved its attractiveness, but the company had not effectively promoted itself on RedNote, a Chinese social media platform that has gained global popularity. 'I suggest that the trams could do more to attract tourists,' he said, such as by launching more souvenirs for sale.
