CHINA

Hong Kong Adviser Proposes ‘Offshore Public Housing’ in Mainland Cities

Published: Mar. 13, 2026 1:24 p.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

Brian Li. Photo: Bank of East Asia

A Hong Kong member of China’s top political advisory body has proposed creating “offshore public housing” on the Chinese mainland to ease the city’s chronic housing shortage and accommodate retirees relocating there.

Brian Li, co-chief executive of Hong Kong’s Bank of East Asia, made the proposal during the “Two Sessions,” China’s biggest annual political meetings.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

Brian Li proposed using unsold homes in mainland Greater Bay Area cities as public housing for Hong Kong retirees to ease Hong Kong’s housing shortage.
Over 106,000 general applications and 81,000 non-elderly one-person applications are on Hong Kong’s public housing waiting list, with a 5.1-year average wait.
Construction costs in the Greater Bay Area are at least 50% lower than in Hong Kong; over 537,000 Hong Kong residents spent more than six months in Guangdong in 2024.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Bank of East Asia: Brian Li, co-chief executive of Hong Kong's Bank of East Asia, proposed "offshore public housing" on the Chinese mainland. This initiative aims to address Hong Kong's housing shortage and accommodate retirees. The plan involves the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments acquiring unsold mainland homes in the Greater Bay Area for conversion into public housing for eligible Hong Kong residents. This proposal seeks to alleviate the strain on Hong Kong's public housing system and reduce construction costs.

AI generated, for reference only