Hong Kong Building - Public Housing In Hong Kong Is A Set Of Mass Housing Programmes Through Which The Government Of Hong Kong Provides Affordable Housing For Lower-income Residents. It Is A Major Component Of Housing In Hong Kong, With Nearly Half Of The Population Now Residing In Some Form Of Public Housing. The Public Housing Policy Dates To 1953, When A Fire In Shek Kip Mei Destroyed Thousands Of Shanty Homes And Prompted The Government To Begin Constructing Homes For The Poor. Photo