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"2016 Population By-census Thematic Report: Persons Living in Subdivided Units" published
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     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (January 18) the publication "2016 Population By-census Thematic Report: Persons Living in Subdivided Units", providing detailed statistics of the characteristics of persons living in subdivided units (SDUs) in 2016.

     According to the results of the 2016 Population By-census, there were some 27 100 quarters with SDUs in Hong Kong. The total number of SDUs in these quarters was estimated to be some 92 700. In other words, each of these quarters was subdivided into 3.4 SDUs on average. These SDUs accommodated some 91 800 households and 209 700 persons. The average household size was 2.3 persons.

     In the 2016 Population By-census, SDUs refer to those formed by splitting a unit of quarters into two or more "internally connected" (i.e. the occupants can move between rooms without going outside through a public corridor, landing or staircase) and "externally accessible" (i.e. the occupants have direct access to the street, a public corridor or landing without going through someone else's quarters) units commonly for rental purposes. SDUs in all private housing (including private residential flats, village houses, commercial buildings and temporary quarters) regardless of building age were covered.

     Analysed by region, in 2016, some 52 700 (56.9%) SDUs were located in Kowloon, 21 900 (23.6%) in the New Territories and 18 100 (19.5%) on Hong Kong Island. District Council districts with a larger number of SDUs included the Yau Tsim Mong (21 500), Sham Shui Po (15 400), Kowloon City (9 000), Eastern (8 400) and Tsuen Wan (6 600) districts.

     Overall speaking, there were more children and young to middle-aged persons living in SDUs. Analysed by age group, 28.4% of the 207 200 persons (excluding foreign domestic helpers) living in SDUs in 2016 were aged below 25, 39.4% aged 25 - 44, 24.0% aged 45 - 64, while those aged 65 and over accounted for 8.2%. 

     Analysed by sex, 48.1% of those persons (excluding foreign domestic helpers) living in SDUs were males while 51.9% were females. This sex distribution mirrored that of the whole population in Hong Kong.

     Analysed by ethnicity, 87.1% of those persons (excluding foreign domestic helpers) living in SDUs were Chinese, followed by South Asians (6.5%) and Filipinos (2.1%) in 2016. South Asians included Indians, Pakistanis, Nepalese, Bangladeshis and Sri-Lankans.

     As regards housing conditions, 66.9% of households living in SDUs in 2016 were living in units with floor area of accommodation of 7 to less than 13 square metres. The median floor area of accommodation was 10.0 square metres. The median per capita floor area of accommodation was 5.3 square metres, which was lower than that of all domestic households in Hong Kong (15.0 square metres). 

     95.9% of the SDUs had independent toilets, while 72.4% had independent kitchens.

     The median monthly household income of households living in SDUs was $13,500, lower than that of all domestic households in Hong Kong ($25,000).

     Excluding rent free households, the median monthly rental payment of households living in SDUs was $4,500. 

     The median rent to income ratio of households living in SDUs was 31.8%, similar to that of all households living in private residential flats, at 30.7%. The corresponding figure for all domestic households in Hong Kong was 13.6%.

     It should be noted that the coverage and definition of SDUs adopted in the 2016 Population By-census are different from those adopted in the Thematic Household Survey on housing conditions of SDUs conducted in 2014 and 2015. Thus, the above statistics are not directly comparable with those compiled based on the earlier Thematic Household Surveys. More elaborations on the differences are available in Chapter 3 of the report.

     The report also contains more detailed results on persons living in SDUs. Users can download the report free of charge at the thematic website of the 2016 Population By-census (www.bycensus2016.gov.hk/en/bc-articles.html) and the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp459.jsp). 

     Enquiries about this report and other results of the 2016 Population By-census can be directed to the 2016 Population By-census Office of the C&SD (Tel: 3547 1800 or email: bycensus2016@censtatd.gov.hk).

Note: The Transport and Housing Bureau had taken into account the estimated total number of households living in SDUs in its housing demand projection for the ten-year period 2018-19 to 2027-28. Relevant details can be found in the Annex to the "Long Term Housing Strategy Annual Progress Report 2017" released on December 20, 2017.
 
Ends/Thursday, January 18, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:00
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