About 30% of Hongkongers are willing to forego a pay raise to qualify for public housing, while many aspiring homeowners are calling for government subsidies to afford a property under HK$3 million. A recent poll conducted by the Federation of Public Housing Estates and youth groups surveyed 367 individuals aged 18 to 40.
Results show that 30.5% of respondents would “lie flat,” a term originating from mainland China to describe minimalistic living, in order to meet public housing eligibility criteria. The survey also revealed that around 85% of participants believe the trend of “lying flat” is attributed to the unaffordability of private properties.
Furthermore, the importance of property ownership was emphasized by 63% of respondents, highlighting the strong desire for homeownership among Hongkongers. The findings shed light on the challenges faced by young individuals in the pursuit of housing security in a competitive market.