Hong Kong Government Container House
The Hong Kong government is promoting the construction of transitional housing by leveraging the concept of container houses in various ways to address housing issues.
Transitional Housing Project Practices
The first transitional housing project in Hong Kong that adopted the Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) method (similar to the concept of container houses, emphasizing modularity and mobility) is the "Nam Cheong 220" project located on Nam Cheong Street in Sham Shui Po. The project consists of a four-story building with 89 units accommodating one to three people each. It was launched in August 2020 and ceased operations in November 2022, having assisted a total of 94 households comprising 175 people in improving their living conditions. Its core advantage lies in the ease of dismantling, reassembling, and reusing components. For example, modules were inspected and then relocated to another transitional housing project in Tai Po's Wong Yue Tan for continued use. This approach not only shortened the construction time (from assembly to occupancy in less than a year) but also enhanced the environmental sustainability and safety of the buildings.
Policy Support and Supply Targets
The Hong Kong Housing Authority regards transitional housing as a crucial means of providing short-term housing security. As of February 2023, the government has identified land to provide over 20,000 transitional housing units, with more than 6,900 units completed and an estimated additional 9,500 units expected to be put into use by the end of the year. Furthermore, according to the 2025 Annual Progress Report of the Long Term Housing Strategy, Hong Kong plans to supply 420,000 housing units over the next decade (from the 2026/27 to the 2035/36 fiscal years), with public housing accounting for 70% (294,000 units) and private housing accounting for 30%. As part of the public housing system, transitional housing will continue to meet the needs of grassroots residents through modular and reusable designs.
Technological Innovation and Efficiency Improvement
The Housing Authority actively applies innovative technologies to shorten the housing construction cycle. For instance, while traditional public housing construction takes 7 to 8 years, the "Simplified Public Housing" (a type of transitional housing) constructed using a minimalist design and assembly method can be completed in just two years. These houses are rapidly built on government or private land with no immediate development plans using modular components. They are equipped with basic facilities such as kitchens and toilets, with an estimated monthly rent of HKD 2,650 (approximately RMB 2,300), significantly lower than market rents.
Emergency Response and Social Support
Transitional housing plays a crucial role in emergencies. For example, after the five-alarm fire at Hung Fuk Court in Tai Po in 2022, the Housing Authority immediately took stock of available transitional housing units and coordinated the provision of over 1,400 units for temporary accommodation of affected residents across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. This flexibility demonstrates the adaptability of modular housing in emergency scenarios.
