Hong Kong to relax mortgage arrangements for second-hand subsidised homes to support less well-off buyers

Hong Kong is set to make it easier for people with not a lot of money to buy homes that have been lived in before, known as second-hand subsidised homes. This change, which will start in March next year, will let the government promise to cover the loan for these homes for up to 50 years instead of just 30. This was decided by the Housing Authority after the Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, suggested it.

The idea is to help people who want to own a home but don't have enough money. The government's promise means that banks will feel safer giving loans to these buyers. Right now, only a small number of these homes have a long-term promise from the government, but with the new rules, almost all of them will. This will allow buyers to get a loan that covers most of the home's cost and pay it back over 30 years.

Officials and groups that represent people living in public housing are pleased with the new rules. They believe it will make it easier for people to buy homes and suggest that the government should do more to help, like increasing the number of homes that can be sold to people who don't live in public housing. The Chief Executive had promised to increase this number, but it hasn't happened yet.