New renovation body may offer bigger subsidies for older buildings

South China Morning Post · Fiona Sun · 2026-10-31 06:48 UTC

‘The most important thing is to get this work done promptly to ensure everyone’s living environment is safe and comfortable,’ finance chief says.

Hong Kong’s planned renovation monitoring body will consider bigger subsidies for homeowners in ageing buildings, older districts and areas with more elderly residents who use its supervision services for major repairs, the finance chief has said.

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Saturday that the Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, set up to curb malpractice in the industry after the Tai Po blaze, would be non-profit but would have to recover its costs, since owners bore the main responsibility for maintaining private residential property.

Chan said the service charges would depend on factors such as the scope of the work, with fees estimated at several thousand Hong Kong dollars per household, but authorities would subsidise those in need.

Read the full story at South China Morning Post · All coverage of this story