An exploratory study on Light Public Housing (簡約公屋) of Hong Kong : for Housing Studies students

An exploratory study on Light Public Housing (簡約公屋) of Hong Kong : for Housing Studies students (information from perplexity.ai)

My question 1: "What is Light Public Housing (簡約公屋) of Hong Kong all about with reference to the field of Housing Studies?"

The reply: "Light Public Housing (簡約公屋) in Hong Kong is a government-initiated special type of public housing introduced in the 2022 policy address by the Hong Kong SAR government to address the shortage of affordable housing and to shorten the public rental housing (PRH) waiting time. It involves standardized, simple designs and modular integrated construction (MiC) to expedite building about 30,000 units over five years (2023 to 2027-28). The scheme targets applicants waiting for traditional public rental housing for three years or more, giving priority to families.

LPH units have smaller floor areas, ranging from about 13 to 31 square meters, designed for one to five persons, with basic facilities such as an independent open kitchen, toilet with electric water heater and exhaust fan, but some amenities like kitchen exhaust fans and air-conditioning are not included. Monthly rents are about 10% lower than newly built traditional public housing in the same districts. Residents in LPH units are still eligible to apply for traditional PRH and can move there later.

The policy aims to improve the living conditions and quality of life for people living in inadequate housing, such as subdivided units (SDUs), by offering better environments, larger living spaces, and lower rents compared to SDUs. The government sees LPH as a practical transitional housing option before allocation of traditional PRH, helping alleviate severe housing shortages and providing dignity and stability for grassroots families. This approach also addresses social issues related to housing inequality and the wealth gap by optimizing social resources for disadvantaged groups. Various LPH projects are underway or planned in different districts with a mix of new modular buildings and adaptive reuse of vacant school premises.

In the field of Housing Studies, Light Public Housing is an innovative policy response to urgent housing demand challenges in a densely populated city with limited land supply. It reflects the government's efforts to balance speed, cost-effectiveness, and livability while managing public expectations and welfare concerns. The concept is somewhat reminiscent of past temporary housing schemes but with improved design quality and social integration goals. However, it remains somewhat controversial due to the relatively higher building costs per unit compared to traditional PRH and concerns about long-term sustainability since LPH units are intended as interim accommodation."

My question 2: "What have been the academic theories to study this topic?"

The reply: "Academic theories and theoretical frameworks used to study Light Public Housing (LPH) and related public housing topics in Hong Kong and more broadly in Housing Studies include several key approaches:

1. Institutional Analysis and Governance Theory: This framework analyzes the governance structures, policy institutions, and stakeholder interactions involved in administering low-income and affordable housing. It helps explore how public housing policies are formed and implemented amid constraints like land scarcity, costs, and social equity goals.

2. Theory of Justice (John Rawls): The theory of justice has been applied as a normative framework to assess the fairness and equitable distribution of affordable housing. It highlights the ethical dimensions shaping housing allocation, aiming to protect disadvantaged groups and promote social welfare through just policies.

3. Housing Supply Value Chain (HSVC) Framework: This integrates supply- and demand-side perspectives on affordable housing provision covering production, allocation, and usage stages. It addresses systemic challenges in matching housing needs with effective supply solutions, including informal housing conditions and policy responses.

4. Social Impact Assessment (SIA): SIA evaluates the social consequences and well-being impacts of transitional and affordable housing initiatives (like LPH). It focuses on factors such as residents' quality of life, dignity, community integration, and long-term social outcomes.

5. Policy and Urban Political Economy Critiques: This perspective explores broader structural issues driving housing problems, such as land use policies, the role of property developers, government failures, and socio-economic inequalities underlying housing shortages.

6. Data Analytics and Algorithmic Approaches: Recently, innovative studies have explored using data science and algorithms to optimize public housing wait times and improve resource allocation in housing schemes.

A recent undergraduate thesis specifically on the "Effectiveness of Light Public Housing in Hong Kong" applies a multidisciplinary empirical approach combining historical review, policy analysis, stakeholder interviews, and outcome evaluation to examine LPH's ability to address urgent housing demand while highlighting challenges and public perceptions.

These theoretical frameworks provide a diverse toolkit to study LPH from governance, ethical, economic, social, and data-driven angles within the broader field of Housing Studies."

My question 3: "What have been the research gaps and research issues on this topic since 2022?"

The reply: "Research gaps and issues on Light Public Housing (LPH) in Hong Kong since 2022 mainly revolve around the following areas:

1. Long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness: While LPH addresses short-term supply gaps, research points to concerns about its relatively higher per-unit construction costs and whether it can be financially sustainable compared to traditional public rental housing (PRH). There is a need to study cost control and optimization strategies given ballooning construction expenditures, especially on sites with low flat yield or complex terrain.

2. Social impact and resident well-being: There is a research gap on comprehensive social impact assessment of LPH on tenants, particularly regarding physical and psychological well-being, family relationships, and community integration. Although ongoing studies are planned, empirical findings are still limited on how well LPH improves life quality compared to subdivided units (SDUs) or transitional housing.

3. Housing supply dynamics and demand matching: Research is needed to analyze how LPH fits into the broader public housing supply framework, including its role in reducing waiting times, interplay with traditional PRH, and interaction with subsidized sale flats market. The mismatch between unit sizes preferred by different income groups and the predominance of smaller LPH units also presents an area for study.

4. Regulatory and implementation challenges: Scholars highlight research needs on developing appropriate regulatory frameworks for LPH units, including eligibility criteria, tenure security, and integration within the overall housing policy ecosystem. Attention to governance, stakeholder coordination, and monitoring mechanisms is also needed.

5. Residents’ perceptions and acceptance: Studies are emerging but still sparse on how residents perceive LPH in terms of livability, dignity, and future housing aspirations. Understanding tenant satisfaction and willingness to transition to traditional PRH or homeownership from LPH is an important gap.

Overall, while LPH is a promising policy innovation, the 2022-2025 literature and policy discourse point to significant gaps in evaluating its comprehensive social, economic, and governance impacts, as well as optimizing its integration into Hong Kong’s public housing strategy."

My question 4: "What have been the public media-reported issues in Hong Kong on this topic?"

The reply: "Public media in Hong Kong has reported several issues surrounding Light Public Housing (LPH):

1. Construction Quality Concerns: Recent media reports highlighted investigations into installation irregularities and construction flaws at some LPH sites in Siu Lam, Tuen Mun, and Chai Wan. Issues include unauthorized cutting of bolts and enlarged connection plates. Authorities have set up an independent team to probe these and warned they will hold contractors and related parties accountable. Despite this, the Housing Bureau maintains that the LPH projects remain safe with no major damage after storms, while emphasizing the commitment to deliver high-quality units swiftly.

2. Demand and Application Volume: The high volume of applications exceeding available units shows strong demand and urgency among eligible applicants, leading to significant pressure on housing authorities to allocate scarce LPH units transparently and fairly. As of early 2025, thousands of applications for buildings at Yau Pok Road, Ngau Tau Kok, and other sites were recorded.

3. Public Awareness and Communication: The government has been active in disseminating information and encouraging applications through various channels such as dedicated websites, hotlines, counters, and visits to subdivided units. This indicates public concern about accessibility and understanding of the new housing option.

4. Balancing Livability and Cost: Media narratives often raise the challenge of balancing construction costs, construction speed, and living quality. Some critiques point to the relatively small unit sizes and reduced amenities compared to traditional public rental housing, prompting debate on whether LPH adequately resolves housing needs versus being a temporary or compromising solution.

5. Policy Controversies: Although recognized as a pragmatic approach to ease housing shortages, LPH has faced some controversy related to its higher per-unit building cost and concerns about its long-term sustainability and role within the wider public housing system.

Overall, public media coverage reflects both cautious optimism about LPH’s potential to assist disadvantaged groups quickly and ongoing scrutiny regarding quality, transparency, and genuine improvements in residents’ living conditions."

My question 5: "Propose a 4-month part-time Housing Studies dissertation proposal, based on pragmatism, on this topic, with (1) the overall research theme, (2) 4 related research objectives, (3) 3 related research questions, (4) 2 primary research methods and 1 secondary research method, a dissertation project title, and a dissertation project timeline."

The reply: "Dissertation Proposal Aligned with Pragmatism for Part-time Housing Studies Student (4 months)

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Dissertation Project Title

Pragmatic Evaluation of Hong Kong’s Light Public Housing: Bridging Policy Intent and Resident Experience

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Overall Research Theme

Applying a pragmatic approach to investigate how Light Public Housing (簡約公屋) policy in Hong Kong functions in practice, examining real-world outcomes, stakeholder perspectives, and practical challenges to identify actionable improvements.

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Research Objectives

1. To analyze the implementation and operational effectiveness of Light Public Housing policy from multiple stakeholder viewpoints.

2. To evaluate residents’ lived experiences and perceptions regarding housing quality, affordability, and social support.

3. To identify practical barriers and facilitators affecting the success of Light Public Housing projects.

4. To develop pragmatic recommendations for enhancing policy effectiveness and resident well-being.

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Research Questions

1. How do key stakeholders (residents, policymakers, housing practitioners) perceive the functionality and impact of Light Public Housing?

2. What practical challenges and benefits are observed in the lived experiences of Light Public Housing residents?

3. How can the insights from stakeholder experiences inform actionable improvements to Light Public Housing policy and implementation?

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Research Methods

Primary Methods:

• Mixed-format semi-structured interviews with diverse stakeholders (residents, government officials, NGO workers) to capture varied perspectives.

• Focus group discussions with Light Public Housing residents to deepen understanding of collective experiences and identify shared concerns.

Secondary Method:

• Comprehensive review and pragmatic synthesis of government policy documents, implementation reports, and relevant academic and media sources.

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Dissertation Timeline (4 Months)

Month	Activity
1	Conduct literature and document review; design interview and focus group guides; obtain ethics approval
2	Recruit participants; conduct interviews and focus groups
3	Transcribe and analyze qualitative data; integrate document review findings
4	Draft dissertation chapters; revise and finalize submission

 This pragmatism-oriented proposal focuses on actionable knowledge through real-world inquiry, emphasizing problem-solving and triangulating multiple data sources to inform evidence-based Housing Studies insights."

My question 6: "Comment on the originality, academic and practical values of this study as well as the main research ethics issues involved in doing this dissertation project."

The reply: "The proposed study on Light Public Housing (LPH) in Hong Kong holds originality in its pragmatic evaluation approach, which bridges policy intentions with residents’ real-world experiences, going beyond traditional policy analysis to capture multi-stakeholder perspectives. Given the recent introduction of LPH since 2022 and the ongoing large-scale implementation, academic research remains limited, especially in qualitative, lived-experience studies and integrative policy-practice assessments, which this dissertation aims to address.

From an academic perspective, the study adds value by filling gaps related to the social impact, operational effectiveness, and stakeholder perceptions of LPH, contributing empirically grounded insights to Housing Studies scholarship. It leverages theory-driven frameworks combined with pragmatic inquiry, enriching methodological diversity in affordable housing research. Practically, findings can inform policy refinements, management strategies, and community support measures to enhance LPH effectiveness and resident well-being, aligning with government goals of alleviating housing inadequacies and improving grassroots livelihood.

Key research ethics issues include:

• Informed Consent and Voluntary Participation: Ensuring residents and other participants understand the purpose, risks, and benefits of the study and freely consent without coercion.

• Confidentiality and Privacy: Safeguarding participants’ personal information and data to prevent identification or harm, given residents may experience vulnerability.

• Non-Maleficence: Minimizing any psychological or social risks that could arise from discussing sensitive housing and livelihood issues, especially among disadvantaged populations.

• Impartiality and Respect: Maintaining researcher neutrality while respecting cultural sensitivities and power imbalances in interactions with grassroots residents and officials.

• Data Integrity: Accurate and honest reporting of findings, avoiding distortion or bias to represent diverse voices faithfully.

Careful ethics protocol design including secure data storage, anonymization, and sensitivity in communication is crucial for conducting a credible and responsible dissertation project on this socially sensitive topic."

My question 7: "Suggest 3 academic and 3 non-academic references for this study in Harvard reference format."

The reply: "Here are suggested academic and non-academic references relevant to the proposed study on Light Public Housing in Hong Kong, formatted in Harvard style:

Academic References

1. Siu, K. L. (2024). The effectiveness of light public housing in Hong Kong. Bachelor dissertation, The University of Hong Kong. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10722/353424 [Accessed 7 Oct. 2025].

2. Hong Kong Housing Bureau. (2024). Long Term Housing Strategy Annual Progress Report 2024. Hong Kong SAR Government. Available at: https://www.hb.gov.hk/eng/policy/housing/policy/lths/LTHS_Annual_Progress_Report_2024.pdf [Accessed 7 Oct. 2025].

3. Legislative Council of Hong Kong. (2025). Latest Progress of Light Public Housing. LC Paper No. CB(1)442/2025(04). Available at: https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr2025/english/panels/hg/papers/hg20250331cb1-442-4-e.pdf [Accessed 7 Oct. 2025].

Non-Academic References

1. Hong Kong Housing Bureau. (2022). Policy - Housing - Light Public Housing. Hong Kong SAR Government. Available at: https://www.hb.gov.hk/eng/policy/housing/policy/light_public_housing/index.html [Accessed 7 Oct. 2025].

2. South China Morning Post. (2022). 'Hong Kong policy address: "Light Public Housing" scheme to build 30,000 bigger temporary homes to help SDU residents', 19 October. Available at: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3196537/hong-kong-policy-address-light-public-housing-scheme-30000-bigger-temporary-homes-proposed-help [Accessed 7 Oct. 2025].

3. Our Hong Kong Foundation. (2025). 'Hong Kong Housing Landscape Navigator 2025'. Available at: https://www.ourhkfoundation.org.hk/en/media/reports/hong-kong-housing-landscape-navigator-2025 [Accessed 7 Oct. 2025]."

A collection of blog notes on using chatgpt for research purpose.